Racing love spurs on Chloe's career

For the average 17-year-old, now is the time to buckle down and focus on studies ahead of exams, but for Serpentine girl Chloe Azzopardi the concentration is on a different prize entirely - winning on race day.

As an apprentice jockey at a stable in Karnup, Chloe has been on a gruelling training schedule for the past two years, which starts at 5am every day.

She spends six days a week at the paddocks on Fletcher Road or at Lark Hill training facility for four hours a day, training and preparing the horses and herself for races at the end of the week.

Chloe was first introduced to ponies at five years old and said she has loved them ever since.

She said her older brother Joe was in the sport and it was his encouragement, along with trainers, which spurred her to pursue the tough and sometimes brutal career.

"I figured it would be a great career to do something I love," she said.

Chloe started her apprenticeship in April 2012, and in February last year made it to the racing stage and has since won 43 races.

The first win was at Yalgoo in April last year where she claimed the sprint by seven lengths.

"You never get sick of the feeling of winning. It's a great thrill," Chloe said.

"It gives you a huge smile and makes you happy for the rest of the day. It gives you a lot of confidence."

She said she earns a set figure for every race and then receives five per cent of the winnings.

All apprentice earnings are pooled into a trust fund, which is accessible for equipment purchases, but it's intended to be used when she graduates as a senior jockey in two years and can work for herself.

Chloe said at that point she plans to celebrate her achievement by investing in property and hopes to try riding on the east coast where the prize pool is about $20,000 more than WA.

One of the biggest hurdles for a jockey is the ability to handle a variety of different horses, which Chloe finds easy with her calm personality.

"It's a challenge to remember each horse and what their strengths and behaviours are," Chloe said.

"You have to be professional and watch what you do."

With tracks scattered throughout the State, Chloe travels from Broome to Kalgoorlie, Bunbury and Pinjarra to compete.

She said it was her responsibility to get a race and would spend Tuesday and Friday afternoons calling trainers to ask if they needed riders.

"It's very competitive, we fight for as many rides as we can get," Chloe said.

As a jockey there is a lot of pressure to be fit and maintain a body weight of about 50kg.

"I tend to eat light natural meals and lots of salad," she said.

"I stay away from big steaks and don't drink too much fluid because of the weight."

She said she spent about two hours a day at the gym working on cardio to maintain fitness.

As the inaugural recipient of the Lark Hill apprentice scholarship from Paul Papalia, Chloe said she was honoured to be selected.

"The $300 is great motivation and confidence," she said.

"The money will go towards equipment, which can cost from $500 to $3000."

Chloe said she was grateful for the support of her family and guidance from boss Rebecca Nairn.