- $725,000 upgrade to female jockey facilities unveiled on Ascot Racing Carnival Opening Day
- New changerooms to comfortably accommodate up to 20 female riders
- Women now represent almost 50 per cent of Western Australia's licensed jockeys
Facilities for female jockeys at Ascot Racecourse have received a major upgrade as part of the Western Australian Government's commitment to racing.
In March, the WA Government, through Racing and Wagering Western Australia, funded a $725,000 infrastructure grant to Perth Racing for a new female jockey changeroom facility at the premier thoroughbred racecourse.
Racing is the only top-level sport where men and women go head-to-head for equal prize money. The changeroom upgrades will support the growing participation of women in the industry, with the number of female jockeys continuing to rise each year.
Reflecting this growth, all six jockeys accepted into Racing WA's Apprentice Jockey Training Program in 2025 were women.
Construction on the new facilities commenced in May, immediately after the final race meeting of the 2024-25 season.
The new female jockey rooms have been purpose-built to comfortably accommodate up to 20 riders and feature modern facilities to ensure all jockeys, irrespective of gender, have everything they need to prepare and recover on race day.
The Western Australian Jockeys Association played a key role in the consultation and design process, ensuring the space meets the needs of its members.
Of WA's 58 licensed jockeys, 25 (43.1 per cent) are women and 115 (30.2 per cent) of the State's 381 licensed thoroughbred trainers are women.
Thousands of racegoers are expected at Ascot Racecourse today for the Ascot Racing Carnival Opening Day.
As stated by Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia:
"Women are now at the forefront of the Western Australian thoroughbred racing industry as jockeys, trainers, breeders, stewards and administrators.
"Racing is the only elite sport where women and men compete directly with each other for the same prizemoney.
"It is a priority for the WA Government that we continue to invest in initiatives that facilitate female participation in racing, including upgrades to facilities for female jockeys.
"The new female changerooms at Ascot Racecourse will help address the increasing demand for further capacity now and into the future and support the long-term sustainability of the racing industry."
As stated by Racing and Wagering Western Australia CEO Ian Edwards:
"The participation of women in racing has grown significantly, and Racing WA is proud to support this positive change through investment in facilities that reflect the needs of today's industry.
"With women making up almost half of WA's riding ranks, this investment supports their comfort and wellbeing, and helps create a more inclusive sport for the future.
"We thank the State Government, Perth Racing and the WA Jockeys Association for working with us to deliver a facility that will benefit jockeys for many years to come."
As stated by Perth Racing Chair Carol Adams OAM:
"We are extremely grateful to Minister Papalia and Racing WA for their support of this project, which we felt was an essential upgrade to the facilities here at Ascot.
"The new facilities not only recognise the increasing number of female jockeys competing at the highest level in WA thoroughbred racing, but better reflect their position and needs as elite athletes at the very top of their profession."
