Saffie Osborne becomes first female jockey to win a British Classic, guiding Highwayman to St Leger victory at Doncaster
News Brief
On 12 September 2026, 24‑year‑old jockey Saffie Osborne rode Joseph O’Brien’s Highwayman to win the 250th Betfred St Leger at Doncaster. The triumph marks the first time a woman has won any of the British Classic races, coinciding with the race’s 250th anniversary. Osborne, who was given the spare ride after a strong season, described the win as a shock and a career‑changing moment.
Key points
Highwayman, trained by Joseph O’Brien, secured the St Leger win, completing a 1‑2 finish for the trainer’s stable.
Osborne’s victory makes her the first female jockey to win a British Classic, a milestone highlighted by both reports.
The race celebrated its 250th running, underscoring the historic nature of the achievement.
Osborne, aged 24, expressed disbelief and emotion after crossing the finish line, noting the win was unexpected.
What sources agree on
Saffie Osborne rode Highwayman to victory in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster on 12 September 2026.
The win makes Osborne the first female jockey to win any British Classic race.
The race was the 250th running of the St Leger, the world’s oldest Classic.
Highwayman was trained by Joseph O’Brien and finished ahead of Enceladus and Amelia Earhart.
Osborne is 24 years old and described the win as shocking and career‑changing.
Still unclear
No material disagreement was identified in the supplied reports.
Source & attribution
Who is reporting this?
Compare the original headlines, authors and publication times behind this brief.
2 independent reports
01
The GuardianEurope
Original headline
Saffie Osborne makes racing history as first woman to win a British Classic
