THE publication of statistics for female jockeys in French racing this week would appear to show that the limited introduction of a two kilogramme (almost four and a half pounds) allowance has been successful. It is still too early to make that a definitive statement of fact, but the trend is positive.

While this is the case, it would appear that opinions are divided about the merits of such an initiative. Indeed, some reports would suggest that female jockeys themselves are not supportive of such a move. One would have to ask why, given that they appear to be discriminated against at present.

The bare facts are that being a jockey today is not an equal opportunities career choice for women. If it were there would be many more pursuing this dream. It is generally accepted that women have a special affinity with horses, many trainers love to employ them to work with horses, including as work riders, but when it comes to putting them up on the racecourse a line appears to be drawn.

While this calculation is based solely on the lists of riders published last December in The Irish Field Directory, 38 of the 200 amateur riders listed were female, representing 19% of the total. When it came to licensed jockeys, riding as professionals, claimers or apprentices, females numbered 14 of the 169 listed, or a meagre 8%.

Dig further into that list of 14 and you find a few have emigrated, a number have had a handful of rides (sometimes just a single mount), while only four or five of them have ridden winners. Is anyone seriously saying that this is representative of female riders or their ability? The successful riders can readily be named by anyone who follows racing, so few are they in number.

You can argue that Rachael Blackmore and Ana O’Brien can hold their own against professionals, or that Nina Carberry, Katie Walsh or Kate Harrington are the equal of their male counterparts.

What you cannot ague against is that there are too few of them competing at this level. Imagine giving all of these riders a four or five pound allowance? How much more in demand would they be ?

Leaving matters as they are is a cop out, and there needs to be a greater debate about the merits, or otherwise, of introducing an allowance. Maybe we could then encourage more young women to aspire to following in the footsteps of pioneers such as Joanna Morgan.