Sport of Queens

Gender equality in sport is a hot issue of our time, with the women's league in AFL being pushed this year and the prominence of issues surrounding gender equality in sport maintaining a bright spotlight in the media.

From a history of exclusion and a struggle for recognition to a slow acceptance in a male-dominated industry, the race for women to be taken seriously may have turned for home, but there's a long straight ahead.

Sport of Queens reveals the history of women in Australian horse racing, from Wilhelmina 'Bill' Smith, who secretly rode as a man at race meetings across North Queensland in the 1940s and 50s, to the exploits and struggles of jockeys such as Linda Jones, Pam O'Neil, and Beverley Buckingham in the 70s and 80s, and the successes of women such as Clare Lindop, Gai Waterhouse, and Michelle Payne in more recent times.

As well as a historic analysis, Sport of Queens contains eleven chapters, each dedicated to a female racing legend, in which she discusses the successes and challenges of her career and the issues she believes the racing industry currently faces. Jockeys, trainers, breeders, judges, syndicators, promoters, race-callers, and photographers are all included.

Also included is a section titled 'He Said, She Said' with quotes from men and women that show the entrenched prejudices that still exist in racing alongside the progress being made.