Historic success for Aamilah Aswat at Kempton Park
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Mon 2 Feb 2026
Aamilah Aswat made history as she became the first female black jockey to win a race over jumps in Britain when striking aboard Guchen at Kempton Park on Monday.
Trained by Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls, Guchen was a 9-1 chance in the Best Odds Guaranteed Overnight At CopyBet Handicap Hurdle and just the fourth career ride for Aswat, 20, who had her first mount in public with the same horse when fifth at the Sunbury venue in November.
Guchen is owned by Friends Of Ebony Horse Club, the Brixton-based inner-city riding school, and Aswat initially learned to ride at a similar organisation in Gloucester, where the 10lb claimer lived with her British parents of Indian and Jamaican heritage.
She said after her landmark triumph: “He gave me a great feeling all the way round and always felt like he had plenty left.
“It just feels amazing to get a winner and so soon as well. I am very thankful to all the connections – the owners and the two trainers. Guchen jumped really well and I was so happy with him.
“It has been rocky, but I have stuck with it and it has been so rewarding. Hopefully, there will be many more winners.
“Ever since I was young, I was more drawn to jump racing and Cheltenham. My dream is to ride as many winners as I can, and to just get on with it. Riding against professional jockeys helps to really build up my confidence and you can ask them for advice – they are all very nice and I’m very appreciative.
“The message I hopefully give out to other people is that if you want to do it, you definitely can and I will be following you every step of the way.”
She added: “If it wasn’t for the Ebony Horse Club, I wouldn’t have progressed in my race-riding career so far. I am very thankful to them.”
Sponsored by The Jockey Club, Aswat completed the inaugural Riding A Dream Academy scholarship programme in 2021-22 before participating in pony racing. She joined Gloucestershire-based joint-trainers Bailey and Nicholls over three years ago.
Naomi Lawson, co-founder of the Riding A Dream Academy, said, “We’re so incredibly proud of Aamilah. She has always been a stand-out talent and we are so pleased that all her hard work has paid off.
“For her to make history today and become the first Riding A Dream Academy student to win a race is incredible and we are so grateful to everyone who has supported her on her journey.”
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