Beverly Buckingham

Beverley Buckingham is one of Tasmania’s greatest ever jockeys. She is also an inspirational trailblazer for females in what has traditionally been a male dominated sport. At age just 17, in 1982, Beverley became the first female to win a state jockeys premiership in the world.

She went on to win three Senior Jockeys Premierships and in the 1994-95 season set a state record of 109 winners in a season. She won three Hobart Cups: in 1986, 1996 and 1998, two Devonport Cups in 1985 and 1988 and the Launceston Cup in 1987.

Beverley won every major race in Tasmania as well as riding two winners in Japan when invited over to represent Australia in 1989. Beverley also rode five winners from seven races in 1986, four winners on five occasions and 41 trebles. She also won the Queens Cup in 1986 and received a personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II expressing her pleasure in being able to congratulate a woman jockey on winning her race.

In all Beverley rode 906 winners from just over 6000 rides in her 18 year career. She was also the first woman to ride in the Caulfield Cup, in 1987. Her career was tragically cut short in a race fall in 1998.

She joins Max Baker as the only other jockey inducted into the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame.

Photo credit

Photo of Beverley Buckingham after winning the Hobart Cup in 1998 courtesy of the Mercury.