The Teen Who Rode Into Racing History: Khadijah Mellah

From Peckham to Goodwood… this is a story that changed British racing. Pippa Funnell and Tristan Phipps sit down with Khadijah Mellah, the trailblazing jockey who stunned the racing world when she won the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood in 2019.

The first hijab-wearing jockey to ride in a competitive horse race in Britain, let alone win. Growing up in Peckham with no racing background, Khadijah’s journey into the saddle took off at the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton and quickly became one of the most inspiring stories in British sport.

She talks about learning to ride as a teenager, the whirlwind of going from riding school to one of racing’s most famous tracks, and the pressure of competing in front of a global audience. Khadijah also reflects on what that historic win meant for diversity in racing and how horses changed the direction of her life.

Plus, it’s that time of year again… Pippa and Tristan gear up for the biggest race in the calendar - the Grand National!