Joanna Mason Celebrates 100th Winner for Legendary Grandfather Mick Easterby

It was a much-to-be-cherished milestone for Joanna Mason when she rode Yorkshire Lady to victory in a 10-furlong fillies' handicap at Ayr, thereby bagging her 100th winner for the legendary Mick Easterby. Joanna has proved that talent and dedication are an intertwined precious history, which wraps up in one package the Easterby family, legendary contributors to British racing. Victory for Mason crowns a career that hasn't merely been an individual dream but also something of a historic old-family tradition—a celebration of one of Yorkshire's most-famed racing dynasties' legacy.

She started riding on the point-to-point circuit, a circuit from where, often, budding jockeys gain experience before stepping into professional flat racing. She rode as an amateur, but when COVID-19 began to spread her lot too, it became a turning point. The imposition of restrictions on amateur riders forced Mason into turning professional, after which she has continued scaling the ladder. She accumulated 59 winners this season. She was also selected for the Ladies' Team at the Shergar Cup for the second year running, and there was increased publicity surrounding her rapid climb to prominence within the sport.

What a day, 100th winner for @MickEasterby @dmeasterby. Thank you 🎉🎉 #milestone pic.twitter.com/LEddqOWvxM

— Joanna Mason (@jomason90) September 19, 2024

Then there's nothing much more synonymous with horseracing success than the Easterby name, and into his 93rd year, Mick Easterby remains as busy as ever as a trainer and is currently being assisted by his son David at their fabled stables in York, known to all as Sheriff Hutton. For Mason, landing her 100th winner for her grandfather's yard represents something a little extra special: it's a career milestone, but more especially, it's a deeply personal win. Reflecting on the milestone, she said, "It's been a pleasure to get 100 winners for my grandad.There have been four others to do it, so I join the likes of Paul Mulrennan, Eddie Hide, Terry Lucas, and Nathan Evans, which is an honor."

Mason's association with the racing fraternity is deep. Her mother and aunt were point-to-point riders; so was her cousin, who happened to be a champion rider in the discipline. Point-to-point riding experience was also accorded to her sister, who participated in a few point-to-point races; thus, Mason is the last family member actively to ride. Her grandfather remarks about her: "You're the swansong."

A gutsy effort from Yorkshire Lady who manages to catch the front-running Reyaadah Star in the final strides, handing the British Stallion Studs Scottish Premier Series EBF Fillies' Handicap to @jomason90 and @MickEasterby 🥇 pic.twitter.com/mnBHTkhO81

— Ayr Racecourse (@ayrracecourse) September 19, 2024

Mick Easterby, who was at Ayr to celebrate his granddaughter's milestone success, still appears regularly at race days at York and Beverley. "He's in really good form," Mason said. "He loves a trip to Ayr, and it was nice for him to see me ride our 100th winner." Yorkshire Lady, winner of the race, is something special to the Easterby yard. A homebred filly, she is not a newcomer to the winner's enclosure. This latest win was her seventh, five of which have been achieved with Mason aboard.

As Mason explains, the story of Yorkshire Lady is closely tied to his rise in racing. We've known her since she was a foal," Mason said, "and as she's come up through the ranks, I've kind of come up with her." The win is also particularly poignant for the Easterby family, with Yorkshire Lady bridging generations of horsemen and women within the family, combining the past with the present. "She's a yard favorite, aptly named, and much-loved," said Mason, summarizing the depth of the family's love for the horse.

With an achievement of 100 winners for her grandfather, Joanna Mason stands testament not only to professional success but also to the strength and continuity of racing tradition in the Easterby family. She epitomizes hard work, passion, and dedication in her journey from point-to-point races to professional success: values passed through generations at the Sheriff Hutton yard. There being no ending to this career, the Easterby future about Mason follows in stride with such a bright past.