Female riders: Valentine Lamb writes that on Tuesday the Turf Club have given “carte blanche” to female riders. From next year, ladies will be allowed to ride in races in competition with men in bumpers, and ladies can apply for professional licences for the flat, as long as they can satisfy the Stewards of “their eligibility, experience and competence”. For the moment, ladies will be allowed to ride in hunter chases, but not other jump races.

Also from next year, girls can be apprenticed to trainers, and ride in races with the same weight allowances as their male counterparts.