Bryony Frost is the first ever group-wide ambassador for Jockey Club Racecourses
Since turning professional in 2017 she has won her first Grade 1 race and was the first British jockey home in the 2018 Randox Health Grand National, her debut in the race.
The 2018-19 Jumps season has started strongly for the 23-year-old too, winning the Badger Ales Chase at Wincanton for a second year running on Present Man and riding out her conditionals’ claim by winning her 75th race already.
A natural in front of the camera, ever-popular Bryony’s infectious enthusiasm and beaming smile has helped attract new fans to the sport and entertain existing ones.
Here she explains why she’s delighted to be a Jockey Club Racecourses ambassador…
“How cool is it that I’m sat here as an ambassador for The Jockey Club?! As everyone knows I love talking about our sport and trying to get new people interested in it so we’re a natural fit.
“I’ve been around horses ever since I first opened my eyes. Dad was a jockey (Jimmy Frost, who won the 1989 Grand National on Little Polveir) and horses were always there. When I was little I had a donkey I used to ride. The deal was if I got off the donkey I wasn’t allowed to get back on him for the rest of the day. So I just wouldn’t get off – I’d sit on him all day.
“But I realise that most people haven’t had that kind of childhood. They’ve probably not been around horses. So the more we can encourage people to go racing for the first time the better.
"I have a metaphor in my life and it’s that if you look at the top of the mountain, it is a very long way up. So if you keep taking a step forward every time, where you finish is where you finish and good on you."
“Summertime is a great opportunity. The weather’s nice and children are off school. If you can get families along to the races there’s a chance to make them think, ‘Actually this is pretty cool’.
“Kids go free and the Jockey Club’s RacePass initiative gives young adults half price discounts too, so the incentives are there. It’s so important to catch people when they’re young.
“I remember years ago being at home and my dad got all these videos out. I was about 15. I was going through them all, races from Newton Abbot and stuff.
“Then I remember seeing one with a sticker on it - ‘Little Polveir’. It was the tape of the Grand National Dad won. I had my nose pressed up against the screen and it gave me goosebumps.
"It wasn't my achievement but I was so proud of him. I knew then and I know now that if I have half the career Dad had then I'll be delighted"
“Then to ride in the Grand National, the race Dad had won, at Aintree with that crowd. It was something else. A really, really special day.
“For me that’s what the pinnacle of our jobs is all about. Becoming champion jockey isn’t a goal because it’s uncontrollable. If it happens, it happens, but I have a metaphor in my life and it’s that if you look at the top of the mountain, it is a very long way up. So if you keep taking a step forward every time, where you finish is where you finish and good on you.
“If you look at the top and don’t get there, you’ve failed … and that’s rubbish.”