Nora Wilmot - first British female trainer of a winning horse

On July 28, 1966, Nora Wilmot and Florence Nagle made history by becoming the first women to obtain a trainer's licence in England, marking a significant milestone in the racing world. Prior to this moment, the participation of women in the sport was paradoxical. While many women had demonstrated exceptional skills as horse trainers, preparing horses for competition and achieving victories, they were largely invisible in the official records of the sport. Racing calendars made no mention of female trainers, and race winners were typically attributed to the names of male relatives—husbands, brothers, or sons. The Jockey Club had not issued trainer's licence to women, effectively denying them recognition as individuals. Throughout the 20th century, it was astonishing that such a situation existed in a progressive European nation.

History of discrimination against women in England

The 19th century in England was a time of scientific and technological revolution and economic growth. The nation's prosperity was growing, culture and art were flourishing. The discrepancy between the general level of development of the country and the social status of women was all the more striking. The parliamentary reform of 1832 legally confirmed the presence of women at a certain social level, depriving them of the right to participate in elections. The official term "male person" appeared confirmed and legally consolidated the state of affairs that had existed for a long time. A woman was dependent on her husband or father, an appendage with no rights: a married couple was now officially one person.

The Jockey Club was founded by men, there was no question of women taking part in its work. Such were the times. Wealthy titled men gathered in 1750 to organise a meeting place for themselves, where they could place a bet and talk. In 1752, the Coffee Room building was built in Newmarket, and from there the activities of the Jockey Club began.

The Club did not intend to assume control over all British racing. Its regulations and standards were meant solely for races held by its members. However, as time passed, these guidelines became universally adopted by racecourses across the nation, allowing the Jockey Club to function as the de facto governing authority. The management system of racing was highly organised, operating seamlessly like a clockwork mechanism with all components aligned. Notably, there was no component labelled "woman" in the Rules of Racing, which was acceptable to most. Well, almost everyone.

Nora Wilmot (1889-1980)

Sir Robert Wilmot, 6th Baronet, was the father of Nora and Kathleen and the proprietor and trainer of the Binfield Grove Stud racing stable in Berkshire. From an early age, his daughters demonstrated strong riding skills and frequently accompanied him on outings that captured public attention. Their poise and elegance in the saddle even garnered praise from the media.

For two decades, Nora served as her father’s assistant and right hand at the stud farm, gradually becoming a skilled trainer with an impressive understanding of horses, rivalling that of her male counterparts. Together, she and Sir Robert trained numerous racehorses.

In 1929, Sport Times featured an article on Binfield Grove Stud, highlighting that although Sir Robert was then 76, Nora effectively managed the operations. Acknowledged as the heartbeat of the establishment, Nora’s deep understanding of horses was widely recognized. Following Sir Robert's death in 1931, she inherited the stable.

Nora sought a trainer’s licence, but her applications were consistently denied. Despite the repeated rejections over the years, her horses continued to compete and win.

In 1937, her horse Haulfrin triumphed in both the Doncaster Cup and the Goodwood Cup, and in 1949 her Summertime claimed victory in the Lincoln Cup. Nora regarded these achievements as her own, even though they were officially credited to the senior grooms of the stables who held the trainer's licence.

In 1961, her horse No Fiddling won the Windsor Castle Handicap, prompting the crowd to chant Nora Wilmot's name. By this time, her relationship with the Jockey Club was evolving from personal to public recognition. Queen Elizabeth became a patron of the talented trainer without exerting direct influence over the Jockey Club. She first sent her horse Devon Lough, known for a puzzling defeat in the 1956 Grand National with jockey Dick Francis, to Nora's stable. In 1963, she followed with the Night Watch, and the next year, the royal horse Don't Tell, also trained by Nora, won a race at Folkestone Racecourse.

Apparently, the Jockey Club's tenacity was not enough for Nora Wilmot to break through on her own. She did it by teaming up with Florence Nagle, another female trainer who also fought for women's rights in racing.

Florence Nagle (1894-1988)

Florence Nagle was the daughter of Sir William George Watson, the 1st Baronet of Sulhamstead. She received a distinguished education yet exhibited a restless and rebellious spirit. At just 15, Florence became one of the first women in Berkshire to drive a car. In contrast to her parents' wishes, she entered into an unsuccessful marriage that ended in divorce. Following her father's passing, she inherited his land and fortune, which allowed her to purchase the Westerlands stud farm in Petworth in 1942.

Throughout her marriage, Florence successfully bred a variety of dog breeds, including Irish wolfhounds, setters, deerhounds, and Great Danes. In 2020, prior to breeding dogs, she began training her first horse, Fernley. In 1932, her horse Solano achieved victory in the Newport Nursery Handicap, and in 1937, her horse Sandsprite, the first she had bred, finished second in the Epsom Derby. Though Sandsprite participated in a few more races, unfortunately, the horse was euthanized due to a broken leg.

Florence's initial breeding horse, Rose of England, produced five winners of notable races. In the 1960s, she trained Gelert, who went on to win at Ascot. Florence's interactions with the Jockey Club were marked by challenges; despite repeated refusals of her trainer's licence, her resolve only intensified. Alongside Nora Wilmot, she challenged the Jockey Club in court in 1964 and 1965, but both applications were denied.

Finally, in 1966, Florence Nagle went to the Court of Appeal, where three judges decided that if the woman wanted to work honestly and without gimmicks, she should have a licence. The Jockey Club was then forced to give in, and Nora Wilmot and Florence Nagle were granted licences to train racehorses that same year. 

It is noteworthy that a few days after this event in Brighton, one of Nora's horses became the winner of the race.

Thus, 77-year-old Nora Wilmot became the first British female trainer whose horse became an official winner of the race.

This event became a hole in the dam of resistance of the Jockey Club. The dam was washed away, and the water gushed. Licences were received by Oriole Sinclair, Louise Dingwall and Gladys Lewis. And in 1972, women were allowed to participate in races as jockeys.

Florence Nagle called her efforts "dragging the Jockey Club into the 20th century."

Her active nature did not give her peace, she achieved the elimination of gender inequality in the Kennel Club, eventually becoming members of this club in April 1979 along with other women.

Nora continued to actively pursue her favourite pursuit almost until her death in March 1980, although arthritis had made her life much more difficult in recent years. Nora's horses No Trespass and Pick Me Not performed during these years and enjoyed long-term success.