Racing pioneer Paula Wagg OAM recently toured the newly opened Female Jockey Rooms at Ascot Racecourse – a $725,000 facility funded by the WA Government, built to accommodate the growing number of women in the sport. With 43% of WA’s licensed jockeys now female, the rooms mark a significant shift from Paula’s early riding days when facilities were minimal. Reflecting on her journey from WA’s first female jockey to ride against men, to Hall of Fame inductee and elite trainer, Paula welcomed the development as long overdue – a tangible sign that women in racing are finally getting the recognition and support they deserve.
Paula Denise Wagg OAM, a pioneer for women in racing, returned to Ascot Racecourse to tour the recently opened Female Jockey Rooms – a significant milestone reflecting the continued rise of female jockeys in the State. She was inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame in 2017, awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) in 2022, and inducted into the WA Racing Hall of Fame in 2024, recognising her groundbreaking contribution as the first female jockey to ride against men in WA.
The new facility was funded through a $725,000 WA Government infrastructure grant delivered via Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA). Developed with input from the WA Jockeys’ Association, the rooms cater for 20 riders and feature a kitchenette, four showers and two toilets. “Women are now at the forefront of the Western Australian thoroughbred racing industry as jockeys, trainers, breeders, stewards and administrators,” said Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA, Minister for Racing and Gaming.
With 25 of WA’s 58 licensed jockeys now women (43.1%), and all six entrants into the 2025 Apprentice Jockey Training Program being female, the expansion reflects a racing industry that continues to evolve in step with participation.
After touring the new space, Paula described the facility as a tremendous addition.
“It’s an absolutely wonderful situation,” she said. “The girls are very lucky to have such a beautiful facility.”
Paula reflected on the stark differences between then and now.
“You can’t really compare it to what it was back when I was riding because we didn’t have much at all,” she said. “In all fairness, there was only a couple of girls riding to start with and then a few more later on… we didn’t need such a big facility. We definitely need it now with so many girls riding.”
Seeing that growth firsthand has been one of Paula’s greatest joys, especially as riders like Lucy Fiore and Holly Watson have established themselves among WA’s leading jockeys.
“It’s wonderful to see,” she said. “They’re both really, really good riders and they’ve worked hard. To see them picking up rides off all the leading trainers – that’s the big thing. It’s taken a long time, but I think finally everyone’s aware that the women are as good as the men and can get the winners if they’re given the right horses.”
In 2024, Paula was inducted into the WA Racing Hall of Fame, an honour she still describes with disbelief.
“Oh, it means such a lot. I think it’s still sinking in,” she said. “I didn’t think that would ever happen to me. It just makes everything I’ve done worthwhile.”
After a decade in the saddle, Paula transitioned to training, a role that offered new opportunities and challenges. She went on to train thoroughbreds at an elite level around Australia and Asia, becoming a respected mentor to many young women entering the industry.
“I got a lot of knowledge from riding for some good trainers,” she said. “I had a few owners that followed me through from my riding days and gave me opportunities, buying me new horses and yearlings at the sales.”
“As a trainer, you’ve got a lot more responsibility,” she said. “They’re paying you to do a job and all you want to do is a really good job. When things aren’t going well, I think basically just go home and have an early night and get on with it the next day.”
Her resilience, she says, was something built over years of professional experience.
“It wasn’t until I turned professional that you learnt how to handle things… suspension, a race fall… that was all new,” she said. “The experience just came along with time and just learning on your own.”
Paula’s trophy cabinet at home tells the story of an extraordinary career, including treasured memorabilia from Kim Angel, whom she trained and Paul Harvey rode to victory in the 1998 Group 1 W.A.T.C Derby.
Walking through Ascot’s modern new facility, Paula said she feels proud to see the sport continuing to strengthen its support for female riders as their numbers grow.
“You can see why they basically had to build this for them,” she said. “It’s an absolutely wonderful situation.”
As Minister Papalia notes, supporting this growth is essential to the industry’s future:
“It is a priority for the WA Government that we continue to invest in initiatives that facilitate female participation in racing, including upgrades to facilities for female jockeys.
The new female changerooms at Ascot Racecourse will help address the increasing demand for further capacity now and into the future and support the long-term sustainability of the racing industry.”
