Laura Mongan became Epsom's first Classic winner since 1969, and the first female trainer to ever win as Classic race last weekend.

Mongan, a trainer at Epsom Downs Training Grounds, won the famous St Leger race in Doncaster, on Saturday, September 10.

She was also the first trainer from Epsom to win at the one-mile flat horse race securing two historical victories to her names as well as the £396,970 prize money.

Surrey Comet:
Pic credit: PA

The race was clinched after the favourite horse Idaho stumbled at the home straight leaving jockey Seamie Heffernan needing medical care. This twist of fate allowed jockey George Baker to take the lead on Harbour Law, Mongan’s horse, despite 22-1 odds.

This is not the first time Mongan has won a major race. In 2013 she trained the horse First Avenue to victory in the Imperial Cup, a hurdle race held in Sandown Park in Surrey, despite 20-1 odds.

Surrey Comet:
Pic credit: PA

The win is particularly impressive considering until 1966 women in Britain could not receive horse training licenses. It was only after Florence Nagle sought legal redress and fought to end their ban on female trainers that women were granted the ability to officially train horses.

Since 1996 female trainers have come from strength to strength with Henrietta Knight training the winner of the triple Cheltenham Gold Cup Best Mate in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Sally A. Bailie became the first female trainer to win $100,000 in 1977. Mongan is following the ever-increasing trend of female trainers within the racing industry.

Surrey Comet:
Pic credit: PA

Mongan currently runs a small yard of 20 horses but her recent win has inspired her to expand hoping to expand her yard to about 60 horses focusing on a long-term operation of training and breeding.

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