'When the yard has a nice winner we have champagne breakfast'

The invaluable role played by the stable, stud and racecourse staff has been recognised by Racing Staff Week, which began on Saturday with the first of a series of daily initiatives.

Sponsored by Betfair, it is designed to inform and engage racegoers and supporters of the sport, while rewarding those who dedicate their working lives to the sport.

In the fourth of a series to coincide with the initiative, the Racing Post spoke to Charlotte Jones, a work-rider with Jimmy Moffatt, who partnered a winner for her boss over hurdles at Cartmel on Friday.

Name: Charlotte Jones

Age: 22

Job: Work-rider and conditional jockey with Jimmy Moffatt in Cartmel

What was your first job in racing?
I started with Jimmy Moffatt on work experience two years ago – I was working at Cartmel and I heard one of the girls was leaving so I gave him a ring. Luckily he kept the job open while I was at university.

Charlotte Jones: has always been interested in horsesCredit: Charlotte Jones

Why did you want to work in racing?
I've always been interested in horses. I did an equine degree course at the University of Central Lancashire and I thought if I was going to make a living out of it I should probably follow the biggest equine discipline, which is racing.

Who do you most admire in racing?
Brian Hughes. He rides our horses a lot, he's very talented and if I could ride half as well him I'd be happy!

How do you celebrate a winner?
After my winner at Cartmel last week I went to watch Tom Jones perform at the course but when the yard has a nice winner we tend to have champagne for breakfast next day.

What can racing do to attract more staff?
There could be more qualifications to help people progress through racing and the hours you work could be looked at. If the hours were shorter it wouldn't be so bad working six days a week. You don't have a lot of time to have another life outside racing – that's probably why there are fewer people interested in doing it.

If you could pay someone else to do one part of your job, what would it be?
Filling up water buckets and emptying our muck trailer, they're the worst parts of the job.

What's your biggest strength in the role?
My riding. I'm quite confident sat on a horse and I don't mind what I have to get on. I've been riding since I was six – so that's 16 years – and I'll get on any of them.

If you weren't working in racing, what would you be doing?
It would probably be something with horses. I was interested in working for the anti-doping department at the BHA and I wouldn't mind working with an exercise physiologist.