14 Facts About Jenny Pitman

Jennifer Susan Pitman OBE is a British former racehorse trainer and author.

Jenny Pitman became the first woman to train a Grand National winner when Corbiere won the race in 1983, and she won a second Grand National with Royal Athlete in 1995.

Jenny Pitman has trained two Cheltenham Gold Cup winners with Burrough Hill Lad in 1984 and Garrison Savanah in 1991.

Jenny Pitman is a member of the Disciplinary Panel and Licensing Committee of the British Horseracing Authority.

Jenny Pitman grew up on her family's farm near Hoby, Leicestershire, the fourth of seven children.

Jenny Pitman's father, George, was a tenant farmer who "kept a few of everything".

Jenny Pitman was brought up assisting in manual farm work, where horse powered equipment was a novelty, and learned to ride a pony "so young that being on horseback seemed as natural as walking".

Jenny Pitman sustained a fractured skull when a showjumping pole fell on her head during a gymkhana at Syston and it was many months before the resultant convulsions were diagnosed.

Jenny's initial reaction to Pitman was unfavourable, but later, when Richard obtained a job in Lambourn, Berkshire at Fred Winter's training stables 50 miles from Bishop's Cleeve, Jenny was persuaded to apply for a job in Lambourn with Major Champneys at Church Farm Stables.

In February 1974, Jenny Pitman entered a horse she had trained in her first point-to-point race.

Jenny Pitman obtained a horse training licence in her own name in 1975, and her first winner came in the same year.

Jenny Pitman was to win one other Grand National with Royal Athlete in 1995, although her horse Esha Ness was first past the post in the void National of 1993.

Jenny Pitman retired from training racehorses in 1999, handing over the reins to her son, Mark.

Jenny Pitman is a survivor of thyroid cancer and a patron of the British Thyroid Foundation.