Amateur jockey Hayley Moore has won a nationwide competition to find Britain’s first female racing commentator.
Sister of 2010 Derby-winning jockey Ryan Moore and daughter of trainer Gary, Hayley fought stiff competition from Ladbrokes radio presenter Rachel Casey at Ascot racecourse yesterday (Sunday 24 July).
Hayley, aged 23, from West Sussex won a place on the racing industry’s prestigious commentary training course as well as a cash prize of £2,500.
Her win was decided by text vote — from those at the racecourse and viewers of TV channel At The Races — by a 60% majority.
The “Filly Factor” search was launched in April by Lovetheraces.com to find a suitable female “voice of racing”. Nearly 50 women applied.
Hayley and Rachel took it in turns to commentate on four live races at Ascot, in front of a crowd of 20,000.
Hayley will start the commentary training course in January 2012 and, on completion in September 2012, be interviewed by the Race Commentator management committee who will decide if she is worthy of a place on the professional commentators roster for 2013.
It was a successful weekend for Hayley, as the previous day she had ridden a winner — Captain Ramius — at the Berkshire track.
“Rachel was a fantastic opponent, so I’m absolutely delighted to have won,” said Hayley. “I’m really looking forward to joining the commentary training course and, if it all goes well, I hope to be back here at Ascot calling races as a professional one day.”
Commentator, Lee McKenzie added: “There is absolutely no reason why women can’t commentate professionally and this competition has been a breakthrough for female race callers. I sincerely hope that we’ll see a professional female commentator in the future.”
For more information visit: www.lovetheraces.com
