The UK’s first Muslim jockey Khadijah Mellah made history by winning the Magnolia Cup at Glorious Goodwood on Thursday 1 August.
The 18-year-old student is believed to be the first person in the UK to appear in a competitive horse race while wearing a hijab and it was only 3 months ago that she sat on a horse.
The amateur rider from Peckham, in south London, won the five-and-a-half-furlong charity race aboard the Charlie Fellowes-trained 25-1 outsider Haverland.
She beat the likes of professional event rider Sophie van der Merwe and Olympic cycling champion turned amateur jockey Victoria Pendleton.
“There are no words to describe this – I’m lost for words,” Mellah said
“When I passed the post I couldn’t believe it, and then I saw all my family and friends and started crying. I am quite competitive, so I wanted to win this race, but I never expected to.
“Horses bring me immeasurable amounts of happiness. I’ve always loved them and always will and I hope to carry on and keep riding.”
Jockey Frankie Dettori told BBC Sport: “I watched the race. It’s incredible, unbelievable. I met her yesterday and she is such a sweet person.”
Mellah learned to ride at the Ebony Horse Club charity in Brixton.
