Gemma Owen, known for her appearance on 'Love Island', finished fourth in her debut as a jockey at the Markel Magnolia Cup charity race held at Goodwood Festival on Thursday. The ladies-only event, part of the festival's Ladies' Day, saw Owen riding as a novice.
Owen started the race on the wider side of the track and lost ground early on. However, she gained on her competitors as the field approached the finish line. The race was won by Imaan Rasul-Healer, who rode Khor Al Adaid to victory.
Michael Owen, Gemma's father and former England and Liverpool striker, watched from the sidelines. He expressed a mix of pride and nerves, telling Daily Mail Sport that while his daughter is a capable rider, horse racing at speeds of around 40 mph carries inherent risks. He noted her slow start, stating it was "frustrating as we all know how important the start is," but added that she "rode well."
He also suggested this would not be Gemma's last public ride, mentioning discussions about her potential participation in ladies' amateur races. "I have a suspicion this won’t be her last ride in public as she has thoroughly loved the process," he said. He anticipated she would be competitive and not content with being beaten.
Owen, who has 1.6 million Instagram followers and is a passionate equestrian, previously shared that she had never sat on a racehorse until a few months prior to the event. Her prior experience in equestrian sports was in dressage. She described the training as "humbling" and a greater challenge than she initially expected.
She stated her participation in the Magnolia Cup was also to support the event's fundraising for the Education Above All Foundation and Educate A Child International charities. The race brought together aspiring jockeys and novices, including a microsurgeon and a reality television personality.
Owen's mount for the race was Phantom Watch, also known as Turbo Trotter. Her father's racing enterprise, Manor House Stables, had several other runners competing throughout the day. Michael and his wife Louise Bonsall were both in attendance to support their daughter.
