Horse racing may be one of the few sports in the world where men and women compete against each other, but the Territory is still miles off equality.
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Following the celebrated success of high-profile jockeys in the Northern Territory, participation is growing.
And an injection of money is driving that growth even further.
A new grant for women in thoroughbred racing has opened and is opening access to training and education.
Top End jockey and aspiring trainer Felicia Bergstrand has raced in almost 45 races this year alone, and has more than a handful of first and second wins to her name.
She is one of the first women in the Territory to receive a lump sum, which she says will help her gain further qualifications in the field.
"I have been a jockey for over seven years now, and I've just got my duel licence and four horses to train so I am very excited to see where this can take me," she said.
She said the grant will help her upskill to remain competitive in a tough industry.
"I am really passionate about horse racing in the Territory, and grants like this will definitely be an incentive for women and girls to further their education and keep women in the industry."
The grant was established by the Northern Territory Women in Thoroughbred Racing association after nearly a decade of work championing female inclusion in the sport.
"After the success of several high-profile women jockeys, we've seen an uptake in female participation, but if a grant like this means one girl can afford to further her training or start a career in racing, then we want to be a part of that journey," WTRNT chairperson Wendy Longuet said.
"The next round of grant applications are now open, and applicants need to be able to explain how the $500 grant will help them navigate the industry.
"This can be through training or education, and flights to interstate courses, so there really is a lot of opportunity to get this grant," Mrs Watson said.
The next round of applications close on March 30, 2020 and can be found through the WTRNT website.
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