One of Cumbria’s most successful sporting figures brought the curtain down on her racing career in fairytale fashion at Cartmel Racecourse.
Barrow-born jockey Charlotte Jones partnered Zumbi to victory last night, before announcing her retirement.
She is one of the most recognisable female jump jockeys in British racing and retires with 86 career winners to her name, the vast majority trained by Cartmel-based
trainer Jimmy Moffatt, having first joined the yard on work experience while studying equine science in 2015.
Despite riding horses from the age of six, she did not sit on a racehorse until she was 20.
Her journey from local student to national racing success story began at Cartmel, where she rode her first winner aboard Lough Kent in 2017 before later riding out her claim at the course with a memorable double in 2024.
Her biggest career success came aboard Bingoo in a valuable handicap hurdle at Aintree, while other highlights included a dramatic victory over champion jockey Brian Hughes at Cartmel in 2020 and an extraordinary front-running success at Newcastle the following year.
After her final ride, Jones said: “What a way to go out, in true style.”
Geraldine McKay, director of racing at Cartmel Racecourse, said: “Charlotte has been an absolutely tremendous ambassador not just for Cartmel Racecourse, but
for Barrow, Cumbria and for women in elite sport.
“She came into racing without a family background in the industry and built a hugely successful career through sheer hard work, determination and talent.
“That makes her story all the more inspiring.
“Cartmel has been such an important part of Charlotte’s journey and over the years she became part of the fabric of race days here. The crowds absolutely adored her.
“To see her go out with a winner here at Cartmel felt incredibly fitting and very emotional for everybody who knows her.
“She has inspired countless young people across the county and shown that racing can be for everybody, regardless of background.
“We’re enormously proud of everything she achieved and we sincerely hope she won’t be a stranger at Cartmel in future.”
The emotional farewell capped a hugely successful opening week of racing at Cartmel, with thousands of racegoers enjoying packed fixtures across the bank holiday weekend and Wednesday evening.
The racecourse’s landmark 170th anniversary season now continues in June with Riot at the Races fixture on Friday June 26, featuring live music from Kaiser Chiefs,
followed by racing on Sunday June 28.
