Joanna Mason this afternoon rode out her three pound professional claim with a winner at Catterick.
Riding Yasmin From York in the 'Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap' Joanna was first past the post, three lengths ahead of Graham Lee on Lindwall.
"I'm really grateful for the support from grandad and David and other trainers that have got me to this landmark", said Joanna after the race.
"It was definitely the right decision to go professional and the winners have just kept coming".
Joanna has ridden under rules as a Lady amateur since 2007, recording her first winner when Lake Chini scored at Carlisle. She soon became one of the top Lady riders on the circuit. Her big wins have included the Queen Mother's Cup at York in 2017 as well as four victories in the Ladies' Derby at Epsom, all aboard the horse she nominates as her all-time favourite, Tapis Libre.
However, her time as an amateur rider was punctuated in March 2015 when she crushed her T9 and fractured her T8 vertebrae in a horrific fall at Huworth Point-to-Point. She was knocked out in the fall and taken to hospital where she was operated on the following week.
Joanna now has eight pins and two rods in her back, but she was soon back in the saddle and riding winners again.
On her return to race riding Joanna finished third aboard Todd at Doncaster on 9th July and then recorded her first post-injury victory when Space War (trained by grandad Mick Easterby) won at Chester the following day.
At the end of 2020 Joanna took the decision to ride as a professional jockey due to a shortage of opportunities for amateur riders due to COVID-19 restrictions. She was soon off the mark when Marwari, again trained by Mick Easterby, won at Newcastle on New Year's Eve 2020.
Going from strength to strength Joanna had a hugely successful 2021 picking up many winners for outside yards, as well as the continued success for grandad Mick and uncle David. Jo finished 2021 having ridden 44 winners during the season, which included being crowned leading rider at Beverley with 10 wins.
In 2022 she has ridden 11 winners, making up the 56 winners needed to ride out her claim.
Joanna will now ride without the three pound claim but from what we've seen she'll be riding plenty of winners for years to come.
Well done Jo!
Joanna Mason after winning the 2017 Queen Mother's Cup at York on Tapis Libre.
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