Khadijah Mellah, the hijab-wearing Muslim jockey who won the Magnolia Cup when she was 18, returned to Goodwood, the scene of her famous triumph, last month to make her debut as an amateur jockey.

The 24-year-old partnered Uncle Dick to sixth place in the Gay Kindersley Memorial Amateur Riders Handicap for trainer Eve Johnson Houghton. It was Khadijah’s first competitive outing since winning the Magnolia Cup in 2019 just months after first sitting on a racehorse.

“People say it goes by so quickly, but I didn’t realise just how quickly. It was a massive buzz, a massive thrill. I feel like there’s definitely loads of notes that I am going to take away and build on,” said Khadijah.

“This is hopefully the first ride of many. I hope that this is a statement that outsiders and people from different backgrounds can really push to continue to progress and exceed expectations and hopefully ride more winners.

“I’ve practiced a lot; I felt ready for it. He’s [Uncle Dick] a brilliant horse, I’m lucky to have had him for my first ride. He knew what he was doing, he got in the stalls, and I could feel his heart beating, but he jumped out nicely and I’m really happy.

“I have been overwhelmed with so much love and support. I have a really great circle around me; it’s taken a literal army to get me here in this parade ring and onto the track as an amateur and I am really grateful. Onto the next one.

“It’s been massive to be back here, it’s a familiar environment, I’m seeing people in the weighing room that I know. The atmosphere is incredible here, I couldn’t ask for a better racecourse to have my first amateur ride at,” she concluded.

New opportunities

Since winning the Magnolia Cup, Khadijah has graduated from university with a degree in mechanical engineering and co-founded the Riding A Dream Academy with ITV’s Oli Bell and Naomi Lawson.

The Academy, which is part of the British Racing School, is inspired by Khadijah’s own journey from learning to ride at Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, has supported hundreds of young people from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds into the sport.

Funded by the Racing Foundation, the Academy runs three programmes: the Khadijah Mellar Scholarship, Riding A Dream residential weeks, and taster days at the British Racing School. 

Image © Great British Racing.

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