Globetrotting jockey makes first race day appearance in regional Queensland

By Jordan Gerrans

Perrie Carter has travelled the globe with a uniquely specific dream in the horse racing industry.

The Ireland-born Carter is focussed on learning about and working in each field of a horses’ life.

That starts at their birth, leading towards their racing career and then in their after-care once they are finished at the track.

The 28-year-old never envisioned that her journey would take her to eventually riding in races as a jockey in outback Queensland.

She ticked off that unexpected part of her path on Saturday afternoon at Cunnamulla and District Diggers' Race Club.

The apprentice jockey took her maiden race ride, which is something she never would have thought was possible just a few years ago.

“It was not my mission at the very start to be a jockey but my mission was to work in every part of the horses’ life,” Carter said.

“That is from breeding, breaking in, all while doing track work at the same time, as well as working on studs and at the sales, just learn, learn, learn and keep learning.

“Now, it is time to learn something new, a bit more difficult, but new being a jockey.”

Carter has crammed in array of racing experience into her 28 years.

She was born in Ireland but raised in the United Kingdom and got her first job at Newmarket for trainer Sir Mark Prescott when she was a teenager.

Her curiosity about the caper grew from there.

She eventually relocated to New Zealand where she would ride track work for four years and once her VISA was up, she landed in Australia in 2017.

Carter spent a couple of years in the Harbour City working for the Waller and Snowden camps, which got the ball rolling towards eventually becoming an apprentice jockey.

She would eventually find her way to the Sunshine State and has resided on the Gold Coast for the majority of the time in Queensland.

Hall of Fame local trainer Helen Page and Greg Cornish helped Carter get her trial numbers up on the Gold Coast.

Only recently, the lightweight rider has shifted north to the Sunshine Coast to tick off the remainder of her required trial rides before making her race day debut.

“I would do it for free if it did not pay but we better not tell the trainers that,” Carter said with a laugh.

“I absolutely love it and I couldn’t survive without horses I do not think. They keep you sane.

“They are amazing animals and they have kept me going through some difficult times.

“There is nothing better than being on the back of a horse that you have a connection with. I love all of it, track work riding and then watching them succeed.”

The rookie jockey made her maiden race day appearance on the back of a bush Queensland legend – Fab’s Cowboy.

The 49-time career winner has been known to hand jockeys their first victory as a youngster, with it happening on multiple occasions over the years.

Tyler Leslight was one of the jockeys who picked up his maiden victory on Fab’s Cowboy.

It did not happen on this occasion for Carter, with the 12-year-old running into fifth in the Open Handicap over 1400 metres.

Fab’s Cowboy still may hand Carter her first winner in the coming weeks with trainer Bevan Johnson often putting four kilogram-claiming hoops on his beloved stalwart.

“It was really good and I really appreciate the opportunity from Bevan to get on a bush champion,” Carter said.

“I tried to get his 50^th win but we did not have much luck. He looked after me and I was very, very grateful.

“It was certainly an eye-opener but I thought I rode ok, but I still have heaps to work on.

“I am going to keep my head down and try and improve myself where I can. It is time to put in the hard yards and really concentrate so I can hopefully succeed as a jockey.”

After recently finishing up on the Gold Coast, Carter now is indentured to Caloundra trainer James Moore.

“He allows me to ride outside work, so I can try and get other opportunities,” she said of her boss.

Carter can ride light and was as low as 51kgs on Monday morning.

After heading to Cunnamulla on Saturday, Carter will be looking to gain more race experience this week at the Wondai non-TAB meeting held at South Burnett Race Club.