As one of the world’s leading female jockeys for nearly two decades, Lisa Allpress will have cabinets and mantelpieces groaning with awards and trophies because of her exploits both at home in New Zealand and overseas. But this weekend she is celebrating perhaps the greatest accolade of all - she has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the racing industry.
“I’m really humbled by it,” the 45-year-old said. “I’ve just had a long conversation with Mum and she’s so proud of me. It goes back to all that support, all the hours Mum and Dad put into me and my riding from a young age - and I’m just so grateful for my massive family support.
“These days, my husband Karl and my boys Josh and Angus are my biggest supporters but I’ve had the total support of our friends and so many people in the racing industry as well and that’s been instrumental in my success.”
Allpress is a four-time national premiership winner in New Zealand, riding 1,628 winners there, six at G1 level, but it has been her international success that has thrust her into the limelight so often.
She has matched up against the world’s premier riders in jurisdictions such as Hong Kong, England, Japan and Singapore, competing in many international jockeys’ series, but for all her feats abroad, it is the one in Saudi Arabia last February that probably topped them all.
On the eve of the Saudi Cup in Riyadh, she became the first female rider to win a race there, not just against local riders but competing in the international challenge against several of the best riders in the world - including Frankie Dettori, Mike Smith, Irad Ortiz, Ryan Moore, Olivier Peslier and Yutaka Take.
“Competing against Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore and other world-class jockeys, to do that on that sort of stage was a dream come true,” Allpress said.
“I got my first taste riding internationally when I went to Macau as an apprentice. Representing New Zealand on any international stage is very special. When you get your name called out at those events saying you are representing New Zealand, every time you get the same chills.”
Allpress has been riding as a jockey since the 1995-96 season after signing on to an apprenticeship with NZ trainer Kevin Gray, who she regards as one of the main influences on her career.
She has mentored apprentice jockeys and has an active involvement with Riding for the Disabled.
“I’ve loved doing that for people who don’t have the ability to do what I do. It’s not just about making them happy, but also seeing the interaction with the horses and them sharing the love for animals that I do. The horses love it too, and they are so well cared for. I take great pleasure in that.”
Allpress, of course, has no plans to rest on her laurels. “I reflect on what I’ve done and I take great pride in what I’ve achieved, but I really feel like I’m not finished yet and that I’ve got more to offer. As a jockey, you are always looking to the next big race or the next winner. I don't even know if I’ve ridden my best horse yet.”
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Bernard Saundry was delighted to see Allpress honoured. “Lisa has had an outstanding career. She’s had a lifetime in racing and her contribution to racing has been immense,” he said.
“She has won races locally and internationally in the top echelon of competition. She’s had nearly 13,500 rides and won more than 1,600 races in New Zealand alone. And she’s ridden with success all around the world.
“But for her to become the first female rider to win a race in Saudi in a male-dominated event attended by some of the best jockeys in the world really put her in the spotlight on a global scale. We’re just rapt that she’s been duly recognised for what she’s done for our sport.”