MV On Track 2018

36 ON TRACK MAGAZINE STEPH SPARKLES UNDER LIGHTS E very racetrack is distinct in its own way and it is that individuality that makes them special. However, it is The Valley that provides a uniqueness that is without doubt near impossible to match. Horses and jockeys battle it out in the amphitheatre style cauldron that generations have grown to love. That love differs for many, but for 19-year-old apprentice jockey Stephanie Thornton, a member of racing’s newest generation, the love affair has only just begun. “I just love riding there. The atmosphere is fantastic, ”she says. The 2017/18 season at The Valley was quite incredible for Steph, as she likes to be known. On top of winning the Night Racing Jockey Premiership with a 20% strike rate for her 12 wins, she amassed a total of 15 wins (including a treble) across the year. Incredibly, 41% of her rides finished placed. So, when you review her racing DNA, it’s easy to understand why she has developed a deep connection to racing. The name Thornton has been synonymous in Victorian racing for years. When your father, Glenn, is a trainer and your brothers, Stephanie Thornton has enjoyed an incredible season at The Valley. With a strike rate that many would envy, she had a breakout 2017/18 period that included a close second in Racing Victoria’s annual Rising Stars Series. But it is clear as to which racetrack is closest to her heart. Tim Guille spoke to her to find out more about the star on the rise.