From Devon to Paris: Frost's French Racing Adventure
Familiar face Bryony Frost made a brief return to British racing at Ascot on Friday, marking a temporary homecoming from her new base in France where she has been riding since May 2024. The multiple Grade One-winning jockey took two rides during her flying visit, finishing third and eighth respectively, before returning to what she describes as the "perfect" racing scene across the Channel.
Finding Her Feet in French Racing
Despite spending 18 months in France, Frost admits her language skills haven't significantly improved. "I spoke no French when I arrived [in mid-2024]," Frost revealed before her Ascot rides, "and I still don't now, it's not something that comes naturally to me." However, she finds common ground with her equine partners: "But luckily, the horses, they speak the language of feeling, so that's good news for me."
The move to France came several months after the high-profile disciplinary case in which fellow jockey Robbie Dunne was found to have pursued a campaign of bullying and harassment against her. In France, female riders receive a weight allowance from male jockeys in many races, creating a different competitive environment.
Impressive First Season Statistics
As she approaches the end of her first full French season - which runs from January to December - Frost has established herself as the country's leading female jumps rider. She ranks within the top-20 overall for both winners and prize-money, with 24 victories from 203 rides and earnings of just under €1 million (£880,000).
Frost has embraced the French racing system wholeheartedly. "The French system has it sewn up," she says enthusiastically. "They do it perfectly. You race for three days and then you have two days off, so you can be more in the yard and more around your team and I think that's just a massive benefit."
Embracing the French Lifestyle
The practicalities of racing in France have also impressed the Devon-born jockey. "You can go everywhere by train, and the trains are amazing," she explains, highlighting the efficiency that saves both time and money. "You can go to Strasbourg in two-and-a-half hours from Paris, which is crazy because to think about doing it in a car, you need a day and a night."
Her description of jockey life paints a vivid picture: "You jump on with your bag, you have a bit of breakfast on the train and then off you get and it's an Uber to the track, which are all within 10 minutes of the station. You bump into everybody [other jockeys] all the time, you can spot us from a mile away, going along like little turtles with our bags on our backs."
Currently based in central Paris, Frost is experiencing city life for the first time after growing up in rural Devon. While she misses family and friends, she's embracing the opportunity: "The Devon kid, I thought, you're young so for one year at least, why not live in a capital city for once in your life? And if you're going to do it anywhere, do it in Paris."
The adaptation to French racing presented challenges, particularly with different fences and racing styles. "Anything new in life comes with challenges and differences, and it was exciting," she reflects. "There's little things like turning up to racecourses that you don't know, and you don't know where the toilets are, tiny things that you don't actually really think about because you've become so used to them in England."
Despite the initial hurdles, Frost has found her rhythm: "You get the understanding and confidence and it starts to feel a little bit more natural and the riding can come to the forefront. And it does challenge your riding, because you become so adapted to the hurdles and fences over here, but it's all still feeling, you know? You're still galloping, jumping, finding the rhythm."
Looking ahead, Frost is planning to put down more permanent roots in France, with plans to purchase "a tiny little house somewhere in Chantilly" to establish a proper base, signaling her commitment to her successful French racing career.
