SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Great Britain’s two-time Olympic Gold winning medallist Victoria Pendleton has been granted an amateur riders licence by the British Horseracing Authority.
The granting of the licence is a big step forward as Britain’s most successful female Olympian looks to compete at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, with betting operator Betfair as her main sponsor.
Pendleton, made her debut on a racecourse in a charity event at Newbury last month.The 34-year-old only started training as a jockey earlier this year.
“There’s still a long way to go to achieve the ambitious goal of riding in the Foxhunter Chase,” Commented Pendelton
“I’m more than happy with my progress so far.”
The athlete who has undertaken the brave career change, has a tough schedule if she is to make the riders cut for Cheltenham 2016. Pendleton training continues this Bank Holiday Monday as she will race at Rippon Racecourse Novice Flats (North Yorkshire).
Pendleton won the women’s keirin at the 2012 Olympic Games and the sprint four years earlier in Beijing. Her Cheltenham 2016 training has been sponsored by Betfair, as Pendleton will ride for numerous UK charities
