Vince Smith is now Victoria Smith and is still attracted to women.
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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions
Former jockey is now a woman
68 replies
IntelligentYetIndecisive · 17/02/2018 23:38
OP posts:
IntelligentYetIndecisive ·
18/02/2018 02:11
"Victoria Smith spent her whole career hiding a big secret – terrified she would become an outcast in the macho world ofracing.
As Vince Smith, she suppressed her wish to befemale, passing herself off as one of the lads and even as a bit of a hellraiser.
Looking back over 50 years of her life as a man, she said: “I had a reputation for chasing women with the rowdy lads.
“I was very fortunate, I went out with some stunning girls. I was in love with them but also envious of how they looked.”
Pals had no idea of the real reason Vince was so keen on “eyeing up the girls”.
Victoria added: “I’d find myself looking at women not because I fancied them but to examine their clothes and make-up.”
Since living as a woman, Victoria has received moving messages of solidarity from friends in racing, including three-time champion jockey Richard Dunwoody and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Graham Bradley.
She said: “Everyone in racing was completely shocked. But the support has been absolutely
unbelievable and overwhelming, the opposite of what I expected.
“During the 80s and 90s, racing was a very masculine sport so the idea of anyone finding out terrified me. It was such a relief when I finally confided in a friend because I had lived with this
secret inside since the age of five.
“It felt as if I had been in prison that whole time and then suddenly released.”
The jockey has never married and has no children but enjoys the support of ex-partners including Lorina Anderson.
Victoria said: “I have had four long-term relationships with women, ranging from four to seven years. They’re all still in touch and I went out to celebrate my last girlfriend’s birthday weeks ago.
“It was really nice she wanted me there. We split three years ago but are on good terms.”
Victoria is now in talks to ride in charity races over the next year.
She added: “I rode as a male for 17 years while always wanting to be female. But if I was born a woman I wouldn’t have had opportunities in racing or made all the friends I did.
“So I want to finish off my career by racing as a female. I’m determined to do it.”
Victoria, who grew up in London, experimented with her mum’s make-up and shoes as a young boy.
In public, she put on a macho persona – often getting into fights with classmates.
She said: “I tried to make myself harder. I could feel this femininity inside so made myself more aggressive to compensate. I was in a battle with myself... it was like a double life.”
Victoria had dreamed of being a jump jockey after watching racing with her grandfather. She had lessons in Richmond Park and a 16 moved to Newmarket to become an apprentice.
At 18, she rode in her first race, the Daily Mirror Apprentice Championship Handicap, on April 14, 1983.
She enjoyed a 17-year career on the flat and jumps, winning 250 races, appearing at Royal Ascot three times and riding the Topham Chase over Aintree’s National fences and the Cheltenham County Hurdle.
Victoria said: “During good times, I managed to suppress my femininity but whenever an injury or relationship problem came along, it always surfaced again.”
After retiring as a jockey, Victoria went on to train 82 winners in five years. Her biggest win was in 2005 when 20/1 shot Blitzkrieg took the Autumn Stakes at Salisbury.
Even while sipping champagne in the winner’s enclosure, however, she was secretly dreaming of becoming a woman. In 2015, a relationship breakdown forced Victoria to confront her feelings.
During this period, boxing manager Kellie Maloney and Olympic gold-medallist Caitlyn Jenner publicly switched gender.
Victoria, who’s still attracted to women, said: “It helped that high-profile people like Kellie spoke out. It made me think, ‘If they can do it, why can’t I?’”
Victoria Smith competed in many big races throughout her career
In the next year, Victoria spoke to transgender people online and attended an LGBT club night, walking into a hotel room as a man and emerging in women’s clothes.
Victoria said: “I was completely terrified, like going out for my first ride on the course. It was the same feeling of being nervous, excited and trying to put the right foot in front of the other without falling.”
On January 1 last year, she decided to become a woman, choosing a name she had wanted for a daughter.
But it wasn’t until September that she felt able to tell her friends in the sport.
Dunwoody, 54, texted: “I really hope it all goes well and you have my full support.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was a total shock. I’d consider you my best mate in racing. I hope we can catch up and have a beer soon.” Bradley, 57, wrote: “I’d love to meet Victoria in the New Year.”
And Steve Smith Eccles, 63, joked when he saw a photo: “Don’t come around here dressed like that or I’ll want to jump on you.”
Victoria only came out to her parents two months ago, around Christmas – first to mum Moyra, 76, and then to her dad John, 78.
She said: “We now go to Dad’s local pub together for a drink with no worries – and that’s one of the things that pleases me the most.
“I’m still the same person and I hope my story helps others. If I’d decided not to switch gender, I’d go to my grave filled with regret.”
It's all about dressing up. 
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