Scone & Aberdeen Women Thoroughbred Racing Pioneers

Scone & Aberdeen Women Thoroughbred Racing Pioneers

Featured Image: Courtesy of ‘The Way We Were’; A Pictorial History of the Scone District 1901 – 2001 by Anne McMullin, Kath Farrell and Audrey Entwisle; Federation Publication No. 4; Published by Scone and Upper Hunter Historical Society Inc. 2001

“Some are born great; some achieve greatness; and some have greatness thrust upon them”

There is no doubt that both Betty Shepherd and Carol Bowen paved the way for other women to excel in the until-then male dominated world of thoroughbred racing. Betty achieved national renown through her prodigious deeds with the legendary ‘Trevors’ in 1966 claiming many ‘first-ever’ titles. Carol’s foray was a generation later but no less ground-breaking.

Both Carol and Betty shared much in common; including supporting punting partners and husbands! Each rode their charges in track-work and were highly skilled in their own right. Today there are many more female jockeys, trainers and strappers enjoying the fruits of success in the highly competitive world of racing. Well done emancipation pioneers Carol and Betty!