Female jockey Bryony Frost reveals her torment over ‘hurtful’ comments after historic King George victory on Frodon on Boxing Day
- Bryony Frost had a historic victory in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase
- Her Boxing Day win was the biggest race won by a female jump jockey in Britain
- Frost spoke about overcoming negativity in the sport after her win on Frodon
Bryony Frost spoke about having to overcome negativity in the sport as she reflected on her historic victory on Frodon in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase.
The 25-year-old’s Boxing Day victory on the Paul Nicholls-trained 20-1 shot was the biggest race won by a female jump jockey in Britain. And as the King George is a jump racing equivalent of a Classic, along with the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National, Frost’s win at Kempton was the biggest triumph for a female jockey full stop.
A rapid rise has seen her ride more winners than any other British female jump jockey, but jealousy and opposition come with the territory and Frost is determined to sort out the situation for herself and her fellow young jockeys.
Jockey Bryony Frost (above) had a historic victory in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase
Returning to Kempton after the Welsh Grand National meeting at Chepstow was abandoned, Frost spoke of having to develop a thick skin, adding: ‘The more success you have, the more people will probably frown at you as smile with you. You have to accept it all.
‘I am very lucky to have an amazing, supportive family and I am starting to build that bubble very tight around me. I am 25 and still learning, but I will never change myself because of some opinions. As we grow up we have to remain ourselves.’
Frost declined to elaborate on her experiences, but asked if she found the negativity hurtful, she replied: ‘We are only human, of course it is. It is hard for me to chat about it because there are still things that need to be sorted out.
Her Boxing Day (above) win was the biggest race won by a female jump jockey in Britain
‘I feel for the younger generation and this is something I am very keen on making better. It’s from within the sport. It’s nothing I can’t handle. I will try to fix it.’
Frost said her life-changing win, which drew 1.4million viewers on ITV, had still not truly sunk in. She added: ‘I don’t think it ever will!
‘When I woke up this morning my first thoughts were, “Crikey, we’ve won the King George”. My world in the last 24 hours has been completely turned upside down. The amount of love being sent the whole team’s way is epic.
Frost has since spoken about overcoming negativity in the sport after her win on Frodon
‘There were 1.4million people watching the race and you can’t comprehend that in your head. I burnt my pizza last night trying to keep up with my phone, but I managed to get a free vanilla latte from the garage on the way home because the chap behind the till had seen the race.’
Asked if she had ever believed such a big prize could come her way as a youngster riding ponies, Frost said: ‘I never allowed myself to dream quite that high at the beginning. It was very much step by step. I was bumbling around Dartmoor as a kid where there isn’t a soul. This place I am living in now is very different.
‘But I never focused on limits because if you set yourself a high goal, what happens if you get there?’
Frost says she is very lucky to have an amazing, supportive family around her
Frost’s success tops a year which has seen Hollie Doyle’s (above) star soar in Flat racing
Frost’s success tops a year which has seen Hollie Doyle’s star soar in Flat racing. ‘Hollie is breaking perceptions and moulds but we all have the same mindset,’ said Frost. ‘We don’t set out to be history-makers, we set out to be the best we can be and constantly get better, regardless of whether you are a boy or girl.
‘That is what is so marvellous about being partnered with your horse. He doesn’t react to you whether you are female or male, he reacts to the way you ride, your movement and balance.
‘You communicate in more ways than speaking and in a world that is so loud, that bit of bliss is mega.’
The Cheltenham Festival, where Frost and Frodon won the 2019 Ryanair Chase, is now on the horizon.
‘Cheltenham is calling,’ she said. ‘Why not? There has always been a feeling three miles might push him too hard. That’s probably why we haven’t gone for the Gold Cup before, but he is a year older and stronger now and seeing out the trip with a smile on his face. The Gold Cup will be a very different race but it is back at Cheltenham, where he comes alive.’
