Breaking through the grass ceiling

How jockey Linda Jones broke through the ‘Grass Ceiling’

by Claire Ashton

By the late 1970's, New Zealand jockey Linda Jones had become a household name. Because of her stellar services to the turf, she was awarded an MBE by Sir Keith Holyoake. It is a little known fact that as he pinned the medal to her dress, he remarked that her husband Alan "ought to give her a good spanking occasionally" because of all her gallivanting around the country. Alan didn't particularly want Linda to ride in the first place, and thought she would be happy after a couple of wins, and then having proved her point, get back to being his wife instead of his jockey.

Remember this was the era that brought us the 'MCP' (male chauvinist pig) and obviously with good reason. Given the social milieu then, how did Linda break through the ‘grass ceiling’? Linda never accepted limitations, and from an early age was a defiant rebel, tricycling off down to the racetrack and aged three. She was not a traditionalist by any means - at her wedding, the bridesmaids carried whips. Yet she didn't want to be 'one of the boys', and she was distinctly feminine. Even in the racecourse stands, in the mid-1970’s, race day participation for women meant segregation. Literally. A white line was painted across the floor of the Members stands. Women were also excluded from the public track bars and corralled instead into small lounge bars.

Women riders were permitted to compete in barrier trials, and the condescendingly named and infrequent 'Powder Puff Derbies'. In some of the competitive barrier trials, the male jockeys rode roughshod over the women, forcing them into the railings or flailing whips to scare their mounts. The women riders were bruised, and their confidence was shaken.

The Waikato Racing Committee believed women riders were reducing opportunities for young men, and banned women riding in trials, and withdrew support for the Powder Puff Derbies. But because of the Derbies, and an International Qantas Lady Riders Series, Linda's riding prowess had been noticed, and she was invited to ride in Australia, and then Brazil. Worldwide, except for in New Zealand and Australia, women riders were licensed and competed equally against men. There was no discrimination.

How was it that in New Zealand, the first country in the world to give women the vote, women in racing were trailing behind the world? Alan Jones went over the official ‘Rules of Racing’, and discovered that there was no rule excluding women from being jockeys. It is just that no woman had ever applied or challenged the status quo. They fire off an application. But even Alan thinks that Linda just needs to get all this out of her system, then she will be happy to settle down. The New Zealand Racing Conference (NZRC) headed by President Arthur Hughes, an ex-All Black hooker, tabled the application at a committee meeting. If they granted an application, it would then establish a precedent, and more women would apply.

Cost is another major factor as separate changing rooms would have to be built at all the racetracks. Not that long ago, women were not allowed to be named as owners or trainers, and some of the committees still regret that development. Objections for chivalrous reasons are also cited; they don't want to see the girls injured, or even worse, killed. Or what if the male jockeys treated the women differently in races, and gave away ground to them. Linda receives a blunt letter. Her application to become an amateur apprentice jockey to Alan Jones is declined. Linda appeals, demanding to know on what grounds.

The NZRC stonewalled her. The appeal is: 'Declined on the grounds that Linda Jones is too old, not strong enough, and would be taking away a male jockey’s livelihood.’ When asked in an interview the reason for women being refused jockey status, she succinctly stated; 'Being women.' Time and time again, the Conference used delay tactics in Committee meetings, which are recorded in their minutes. Their line was that if they were to let women in, there had to be correct procedures set up such as changing facilities etcetera. Not just the NZRC objected.

Many trainers and owners, (almost exclusively male) and some jockeys were vehemently and vocally opposed. They didn't want 'Sheilas' on their horses, or out on the track, especially if they rode like they drove! Even some women send Linda hate mail, telling her to stay at home and start a family. They even reproach her in public in the supermarket aisles.

This rattles Linda, who doesn't even think of herself as a feminist - just a woman wanting a chance to do what she is best at. Riding racehorses. Marilyn Waring, the youngest ever Member of Parliament for Labour, takes up the fight for Linda's cause.

Under the approaching Human Rights act and legislation, the NZRC decision to ban Linda and other women riders would be illegal, and the NZRC could face prosecution and be fined. Journalist John Costello regularly writes up Linda's cause in his racing column; he doesn't think women are strong enough and up to the dangers of the race track, but they should at least be allowed to have a go. Under increasing pressure, the Racing Conference ends the male-only reign, and resign themselves to the fact that times are 'a-changing’.

They reluctantly grant the apprenticeship to Linda. By this time however, Linda is pregnant with her first child and has to wait to prove herself. At Te Rapa race track, on a horse called Big Bikkies, she stays in the lead for the whole race. The crowd chants 'Go Linda Go! Of course crowds usually call out the horse’s name, but Linda has a fan club, women wearing t-shirts printed with the slogan 'Go Linda Go!' Linda flashed past the post, a winner.

After her eponymous win in the Melbourne Cup, rider Michelle Phelps credited Linda Jones in her address to the crowd.

Linda was the first female rider to win in Australia at Doomben.

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Epilogue

Linda Jones went on to have a stellar albeit brief career of only 18 months, during which time she achieved many firsts as a woman jockey: First woman to apply for a jockey's license in New Zealand First woman to lead a first season’s apprenticeship First woman to ride four winners in a day First woman to ride a winner at Ellerslie and Trentham First woman to win a Derby in the world First woman to be awarded an MBE for her achievements in racing First woman to win a tote race against male jockeys in Australia Her stubborn and heroic battle paved the way for many women to follow. Because of her first season success, she proved without a shadow of a doubt that women deserved their place on the track.

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Article based on research, treatment, story, and script for 'That Jones Girl' - a feature film biopic I have written.