Jockey Hollie Doyle has today, Tuesday 1st December, been shortlisted along with just five other sportspeople for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Doyle is nominated for the prestigious award alongside Lewis Hamilton, Stuart Broad, Jordan Henderson, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Tyson Fury. The winner will be revealed on Sunday 20th December as part of a special televised broadcast.
Doyle, who was named 2020 Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year just last week, has enjoyed a sensational year, adding numerous accolades to her already illustrious CV.
The 24-year-old broke her own record set in 2019 (116) for wins achieved by a woman during a calendar year in Great Britain and is currently on 136 wins for 2020.
She also finished fourth in the 2020 Flat Jockeys’ Championship, the highest ever placing by a woman and became the first woman to ride five winners on the same card at odds of 899-1 at Windsor in August.has
Earlier in the year she enjoyed her first ever Royal Ascot winner, joining the roll of honour with Gay Kelleway and Hayley Turner as only the third woman to win at the meeting.
Furthermore, she dominated Britain’s most valuable raceday, QIPCO British Champions Day in October, emerging as the leading rider on the day with two winners and two second places, having clinched her first ever Group 1 winner (the highest level in racing).
On being shortlisted Hollie, who is an ambassador for Sky Sports Racing said: “It is a huge privilege to be nominated for such an illustrious award.
It’s hard to get my head around being nominated alongside the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Tyson Fury, but I’m really pleased that horse racing has been recognised alongside these sports.
Racing can be in its own little bubble as such, so hopefully this might help to open the door to a wider audience.“
Sir Anthony McCoy who won Sports Personality of the Year in 2010 and was honoured with a lifetime achievement award in 2015 said: “Hollie Doyle has got on with her job quietly, confidently, and successfully. She seems more interested in walking the walk than talking the talk.
She lets her achievements do the talking and there’s a lot to learn from Hollie. She keeps her head down, she works hard and understands the need to make herself better all the time. Honestly, I’m a little bit jealous of her. A thoroughly deserved nomination.”
Three-time Champion Jockey and racing legend Frankie Dettori also added his praise, he said: “She could easily be a champion jockey, why not? She is riding really well and is riding the crest of a wave. To be the first woman to win five races on a card speaks volumes of her talent in the saddle.”
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