Kei Chiong is proving it’s not just a man’s world
30/06/2016
The discovery of a young talent is often preceded by the emergence of a good judge of talent. In the case of Kei Chiong Ka-Kei, that judge was her father.
Kei, speaking at the Apprentice Jockeys’ School at the launch of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s latest racing trainee recruitment process, recounted how she decided to pursue a riding career: “I graduated from Form five in the summer of 2009,” she said. “I was planning to go on to further studies when my father handed me an application form for racing trainees and asked me to think it over.”
As a child, Kei once travelled with her parents to mainland China and while visiting a zoo had her first ride on a horse. She felt so free and relaxed on horseback that during subsequent visits she always took time to ride the horses. “I guess my father knew that I liked sports and riding horses, so he asked me to join the racing trainee programme,” said Kei.
Kei decided to give it a try. In the end, after passing a series of fitness and riding tests as well as interviews, she became one of the twenty-five selected racing trainees. “At the initial stage of training, I found the fitness class the most testing,” she said. “The fitness training I did in a month equalled what I had done in one whole year when I was in secondary school. I suffered great muscle pain, so much so that I had to apply pain-relieving lotion every night as if it were skin moisturiser.”
The young rider is happy to break some gender myths and considers that the key to success is down to effort, not gender. “At the beginning, I realised I lacked physical strength (compared to the boys), so I decided to double the amount of time I spent on physical training. I caught up with the others eventually. However, even though physical fitness is important, jockeys are required to use a combination of physical power and skill to control their mounts, which weigh over a thousand pounds each.”
She received two-and-a-half years of basic training in Hong Kong, mastering riding skills and acquiring a knowledge of horse racing, before heading to New Zealand for further training. She was indentured to Kiwi trainer Graham Richardson and then Allan Sharrock. During her stay in New Zealand, Kei rode in 453 races and accumulating 44 wins. Her overseas success enabled her to become the first female licensed apprentice jockey in Hong Kong since Carol Yu Wing-sze retired in May 2000.
Kei’s Hong Kong debut coincided with the opening of the 2015/16 season. She snatched her first win atop Hearts Keeper a month later. However, it was not until the New Year that her talent begin to shine, and on 10 April she landed four wins at Sha Tin. That broke the Hong Kong record of most wins in a raceday by a female jockey. As of 29 June, Kei has ridden in 291 Hong Kong races and accumulated 34 wins, 35 seconds and 24 thirds. That win tally is a record for a female jockey in Hong Kong.
Competing against the boys every day, the 23-year-old believes women can shine in this male dominated sport. “Being a female, our strongest points are attentiveness and tenderness, and generally lighter weight. Therefore, in terms of horse care and handling as well as making riding weight, I believe women are in no way inferior to men.”
The Jockey Club’s latest round of racing trainee recruitment has already started. Kei urges youngsters who love sports and animals to apply for the programme and pursue their dreams.
