Newmarket will rename a race on Two Thousand Guineas Day after Ellen Chaloner, who was recently revealed to be the first woman to hold a coaching license in the UK. This announcement coincides with International Women’s Day March 8.
Chaloner was licensed by the Jockey Club to succeed her late husband Tom in 1886 and trained at Osborne Stables in Newmarket, which is now part of Sir Mark Prescott’s operations. Her descendants, including former jockey Charlie Swan, and Newmarket Magazine worked to gain more recognition for Chaloner, starting with fundraising for a headstone on her grave in Newmarket Cemetery. Before the discovery of Chaloner’s story, Norah Wilmot and Florence Nagel are believed to have been the first women to be licensed in 1966.
Ellen Chaloner’s Graveyard at Newmarket Cemetery
Joe Rendall, communications lead for Jockey Club East, said: “The recent campaign by various members of the Chaloner family was to see that Ellen and the site in Newmarket where she is buried are properly memorialized. The Jockey Club is starting to think of other ways that Ellen could be remembered and I’m pleased to announce that there will be a QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas listed race in May that will be permanently renamed. forever in her honor.”
The race chosen to bear her name is a 3 year old listed track and field race, formerly known as the Kilvington Stakes, to be held in Nottingham until 2022.
Originally from Yorkshire, Chaloner was born into a large racing family and was one of 11 children. Her father was a trainer and she married apprentice jockey Tom Chaloner before they moved to Newmarket in 1872. Chaloner later trained at Osborne House Stables but he died aged 47 in 1886, allowing his widow Ellen to continue to use Newmarket Heather. She won the Jersey Stock with Jersey Lily the following year. Recent research revealed that Ellen dropped out of practice after a yard fire in 1894 but remained a popular figure in Newmarket until her death at the age of 98 in 1944.
Swan is Ellen Chaloner’s great-grandson, and he says: “My mother Theresa was a Chaloner and always said that my great-grandfather and grandmother used to ride, that’s probably where I got my talent. It’s amazing. as they were renaming the race to Ellen Chaloner Stakes, in her honor and hopefully, I’ll be there on Two Thousand Guineas.”
Sir Mark Prescott said: “My predecessor at Osborne Stables, Mr. Waugh, greatly appreciated Ellen Chaloner, who outlived all seven of her children. She was an extraordinary woman, living a life. in a certain way, and I’d love to go around the stables at night with her.After getting it, Mr. Waugh changed a lot of things on the field, which is only 19 squares, but I’m very happy. saying I’ve put it all back in place.”
As for his chances of getting a runner in the Ellen Chaloner Stakes, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1)-winning coach added: “It’s only six stretches so it might be a bit fast for me, but that’s it. is a race that produces good mares that you could say Type (dam of Frankel ) won it (in 2005).
