Female jockeys make history at Callaghan Park

For just the second time in the 156-year history of Rockhampton racing the entire card of winners at Callaghan Park had female jockeys.

Brooke Johnson, Tahlia Fenlon and Georgina Cartwright were part of the all female winners card at Callaghan Park.

Earlier this week, female jockeys etched another indelible mark into the chronicles written on the 156 years history of Rockhampton racing when, for the second time, that gender rode the entire card of winners at Callaghan Park racecourse.

The winning trio Brooke Johnson, Tahlia Fenlon and Brisbane’s Georgina Cartwright each brought about the rare feat with panache by riding winning doubles on the six race TAB program.

Johnston 21, the most inexperienced, having commenced jockeying in 2022, won on both a favourite I’tellyougo ($1.45) as well as an outsider in Gladstone trainer Adam Briskey’s Mont Royal ($21.00)

Brooke Johnson.

In total Brooke has ridden 90 winners.

Brooke looms as the heir apparent to Rocky born and premiership winning apprentice Tahlia Fenlon, 21 who is now indentured to trainer Chris Munce in Brisbane.

On Tuesday, Tahlia notched both her 151st and 152nd race winners through John O’Sing’s Jungle Beat ($3.90) and Allan Jenkinson’s The Last Saga ($16.00).

Fenlon started her career in Capricornia in May 2021 and after later being granted her provincial licence she dominated in the local apprentice ranks whereby now she has won 41 races at Callaghan Park.

Formerly from Victoria, senior jockey Georgina Cartwright 31, moved to Brisbane some years ago enjoying considerable success in the city and provincials despite the higher level of competition.

Tahlia Fenlon.

Georgina commenced her jockeys’ career in 2015 and since then has put together 377 winners on no fewer than an amazing 67 racecourses.

Those winners have included 31 (Brisbane), 28 (Adelaide) and 17 in Melbourne.

She was in favour with corporate bookmakers Australia wide after her Rockhampton results last Tuesday.

Her winners were Callaghan Park Jason Morgan’s trained Exeter ($31.00) and Bundaberg trainer Gary Clem’s Frosty Bear ($16.00).

It was not the first time Georgina Cartwright had shared with fellow female jockeys in winning an entire race program.

She was in the winning mix once previously at Toowoomba in October 2021.

Jockey Georgina Cartwright. Picture: Kevin Farmer

At Callaghan Park racecourse Tuesday’s feat is not unprecedented.

However, it was the first of such on the grass since “turf track’ racing was introduced there in September 1984.

On January 19, 2010, female Rockhampton apprentice jockeys Alisha Taylor (3 winners) and Carly-Mae Pye (2) with peers, local Shayla Evans (1) and Mackay’s Trinity Bannon (1) won all seven races on a Callaghan Park TAB sand track program.

Racing had been conducted on that surface for sometime previously, while a new turf track facility at a cost of $6M was being built and was eventually opened for racing just 10 days later.

Originally published as Female jockeys make history at Callaghan Park