Royal Ascot 2024: Teenage riding sensation wins £175,000 race while mates sit A-levels

Most 18-year-olds are sitting A-levels this week, but Billy Loughnane is not most 18-year-olds.

The teenage riding talent is on a path to the top of his profession and he took his next step on day one of Royal Ascot. Loughnane, son of Kidderminster trainer Mark Loughnane, burst onto the scene at the end of 2022 when he rode his first winner as a 16-year-old.

He earned the nickname ‘Billy the Kid’ as the tyro went on to win the apprentice championship in 2023, ending the year having ridden an astonishing 130 winners.

Loughnane has already reached the 200 career winner mark and registered another landmark by steering 80–1 chance Rashabar, trained by Brian Meehan, to a photo-finish victory in the Coventry Stakes - the race with a £175,000 prize pot - wearing the famous Sangster silks

“Wow, what a feeling!” said Loughnane. “I haven’t even been riding two years yet. I had my 200th career winner last night at Windsor, and I came here this week just praying I would manage to get on the board with one.

“To do it so early is a massive relief, and I can’t thank everyone from Brian Meehan’s and everyone involved. I was behind Sean [Levey] and he had to ride for Mr Hannon, and I was very lucky to get the opportunity.

Billy Loughnane accepts his trophy from the Princess Royal

“Brian was very confident coming into the race. Rashabar was very tough and had to do it the hard way. I wasn’t 100 percent sure I had won, I just kept driving away. I looked up at the big telly there and I thought I might have won but you never know for certain.

“This is the best feeling in the world. You grow up watching races like this. It’s always been a dream of mine to try and win one, it’s my first Group race in the UK and it means a lot.”

Winning trainer Meehan said of Loughnane, "He’s a great kid, a lovely way about him and wonderful with people. The world is his oyster as far as the horse business is concerned.”