Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2010 | Page 112

the rider

Island Life - August/September 2010

Photo: Rosie cantering up the straight
gallop, Newmarket, 2008

Future looks Rosie for budding star
Former Sandown High School pupil
Rosie McKee is continuing her quest
to become a leading jockey, despite
receiving a few painful reminders of
how tough the profession can be.
Rosie, who comes from Lake but
now works in stables at Newmarket,
has already had her two front teeth
knocked out. But with them safely
restored, the smile is back on her
face, despite also being sidelined for
six weeks after being kicked on the
shoulder.
The 22-year-old is following in the
footsteps of elder brother Nick, who
also became a jockey, but is now
travelling head lad for Alan Jarvis at
racing stables in Oxfordshire. Rosie
hopes to go even further than Nick, and
admits the ultimate dream is to one day
ride in the Grand National.
Only a handful of successful women
riders have gone on to become
successful jump jockeys, but that has

Photo: Nick (Rosies brother) leading
up at Brighton racecourse 2010

112

left Rosie undeterred. In a visit back to
the Island she explained how she first
became interested in riding, and how
her quest for racing glory is going.
She said: “When I was five I watched
Nick riding horses, and decided I
wanted to do it as well, so I went
to Sandy Bailey’s riding school. Then
Nick started working at the Brickfields
stables, so I also went there to help
out.
“When I was about nine, Nick went
off to the British Racing School. We
went with him for his interview at
Newmarket, and as soon as I saw the
place I knew that was what I wanted
to do as well. After the interview they
showed us around the yard and stables,
and I just loved everything about it.”
But as a fall back during her education
at Sandown, Rosie studied sports
science, and attained her beach
lifeguard certificate, working for the
IW Council for two years as a lifeguard.

She also gained qualifications to train
lifeguards, before she decided she
preferred water jumps to just water,
and pursued her ambition to become a
jockette.
In early 2008, Rosie successfully
applied to go to the Racing School, and
was also able to gain much-needed
work experience at the renowned John
Dunlop stables at Arundel.
She entered Racing School for a
10-week cou '6R