Jocelyn Young winning aboard Ronald Scott. Photo by Hamilton Content Creators
“Horses just run in the blood, family on both sides have been involved in harness racing forever.”
For Jocelyn Young, there was never going to be any other option other than horses. With her career starting out in the cart, Young made her debut as a reinswoman during the 2014/15 season, with the now 29-year-old accumulating 3131 race starts for 329 wins including a group 1 3YO WA Oaks on board Has No Fear, who eventually made her way to Young’s stable in mid-2020.
With opportunities dwindling, Young made the decision to take up training in 2017/18, a decision that has proven quite fruitful and with 10 horses in work currently, Young mentioned that she’s happy with her numbers as it allows her to continue doing the ‘one percenters.’
“Losing my claim made me take out my trainer’s licence so I could continue to drive,”
“Eventually opportunities lacked in the workplace, so I had to make my own.”
Since Saturday, Young has prepared four horses for four wins, combining with Maddy on one occasion to give the sisters a win with Pontevivo at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night. With the Young Family, as well as the Grantham family having a longstanding history in the sport, Young has been fortunate enough to have learnt as much as she has from her family, as its “all they live and breathe.”
“There really was nothing else I wanted to do, but I did study personal training and was fully qualified but headed back to the horses shortly after getting my certificate.”
With 10 horses in her stable currently, Young has a few promising types in her care, including two-year-old Ronald Scott who had four starts for the stable, for three wins and a placing, including his last start metropolitan win in the $25,000 Westsired 2YO Colts and Gelding Pace, where an indiscretion near the finish line landed the youngster a six-day holiday and a trial. Young confirmed he has had a short freshen up and will head to Pinjarra trials next Wednesday.
Skylord, who is owned by the sisters, broke through for his maiden win on Monday at Pinjarra on debut, with Young excited for his future. Her success in recent years has led to owners recognising her skill, with a gradual growth of new owners and horses to her stable.
“My goal is to get Maddy to work for me and become the A team everyone envys.”
Jocelyn heads to Narrogin tonight with five drives on her book, including the one runner from her stable, The Amber Hare who lines up from barrier one in race five at 7.59pm.
