Six horses, 800m race, Trangie picnic meeting – hardly the Magic Millions.
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But for new Orange jockey Katie Jenkinson it was like winning the Melbourne Cup.
Jenkinson’s winning ride on Sinnendor at Trangie two weeks ago was not only her first win from her first ride it was also an amazing personal achievement.
She had suffered a broken shoulder and serious back injury in training rides leading to a lot of time out of the saddle – and the sort of injuries that would make many think of a new career.
I had a first start, first win
- Katie Jenkinson, jockey
But persistence has paid off for Jenkinson who has just moved to Orange to become a trackwork rider and score a ride in every race at Saturday’s Give Me 5 For Kids Picnic Race Day at Towac Park.
She said that win on December 29 was pretty special.
“I had a first start, first win,” she said.
Now she wants to concentrate on picnic race meetings as she builds her career.
“I’ve got a full book, all six races (at Orange),” she said.
“I’ll see how my old injuries hold up.”
Jenkinson said the picnic race meetings, where only amateur jockeys can ride, were a great way to start.
“I’m enjoying the picnics,” she said.
“I’m going to see out the season for the picnics.”
That culminates with the major picnic meeting in Dubbo later this year where she said there was $50,000 main race prizemoney.
Jenkinson’s career has had plenty of twists already.
“I originally started out in Orange as an apprentice in 2012,” she said.
“Then I copped an injury from a fall at the 1600m barrier in trackwork.”
She disclocated and fractured her right shoulder putting her out of action.
After moving to Dubbo she suffered another fall, this time injuring her back.
But she said she had been riding for the past 12 months and was raring to go.
Jenkinson moved back to Orange with her partner late last year.
“Pretty much as soon as I landed here I got track work,” she said.
Orange has a shortage of trackriders and she has begun riding for Towac Park trainers Michael Plummer and Alison Smith.
The Orange picnic race meeting will consist of six races with first at 1.25pm and the last at 5.50pm.
The feature event, race five, is the Give Me 5 For Kids Orange Trophy Handicap over 1300 metres at 4.25pm.
Jenkinson will be riding Sunshine Royale for her former Dubbo boss Garry Lunn in the 13-horse field.
The gates open at Towac Park at noon and on-course betting will be available.