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SARGA.CO – Najla Al Balkis may not yet have amassed achievements comparable to those of veteran jockeys. However, at such a young age, she has already carved out a milestone of her own in the world of Indonesian horse racing.
At just 17 years old, the student of SMK Negeri 1 Panjang Panjang made history as the first female jockey from West Sumatra. Her appearance at the Indonesia’s Horse Racing (IHR) Cup IHR II Payakumbuh drew widespread attention in a sport still largely dominated by male jockeys.
Dressed in red silks and a helmet, Najla rode Sri Aloy, a five-year-old chestnut stallion formerly known as Berlin Star, with visible confidence.
Competing in the Extra Class (600 meters) for the Pertamina Trophy, with a total prize of Rp10 million, Najla finished as runner-up after an intense duel with Warna Sari, the star horse of Gery from Bukittinggi.
Yet Najla’s journey into the national horse-racing scene has been one defined by perseverance and unwavering determination.
Najla’s chance to compete in a horse-racing championship came unexpectedly. Just four days before her debut, she was invited by her trainer, Abdi Salam, to take part in a racing event.
The opportunity arose when a female jockey named Diva was unable to race due to permit issues. However, the challenges did not end there.
Najla still had to convince her parents to allow her to compete as a jockey in an official horse-racing championship.
"It’s up to you,’ my father said. ‘After all, this has been your wish for a long time," Najla recalled as she shared the moment she asked for her father’s permission.
After securing her parents’ consent, Najla faced yet another hurdle. With very limited time, she had to obtain approval from the Board of Stewards to be officially allowed to compete.
Help came from her uncle, who promised to handle all administrative matters so Najla could race.
“They asked us to make an agreement letter or statement. At the time, it was signed by me, Najla, and her parents. Only then did the committee grant permission,” said Abdi Salam.
Najla’s emergence as a female jockey also caught the attention of the local mayor. After a brief conversation, she received both praise and a challenge from him.
“‘If you finish first, I’ll give you one million rupiah,’” Najla recalled, quoting the mayor’s words.
With all formalities completed, it was time for Najla to prove herself on the track. Armed with her prior riding experience, she encountered a nerve-racking moment once the race began.
Najla recalled that the most tense moment came right after the gates opened. At that instant, her left foot had not fully settled into the stirrup.
“The horse veered to the right. I couldn’t hold the neck strap… I couldn’t keep holding it, and I had trouble balancing my body,” Najla remembered.
That frightening moment did not go unnoticed by Abdi Salam, who had been closely monitoring her from the moment she entered the starting gate.
“Of course, I was nervous—worried about whether she was safe with such an unstable position. She was sitting in the saddle, but her foot wasn’t properly in the stirrup,” he explained.
Fortunately, Najla managed to regain her balance throughout the race. Abdi Salam felt relieved when he saw her smile as she crossed the finish line.
“She even managed to put on a bit of a show—smiling at the finish line, smiling despite everyone’s worries,” he said, adding his relief that Najla completed the race without any injuries.
Najla believes horse racing is not exclusively dominated by men. The teenager, who cites Jemmy Runtu and Aqilah as her idol jockeys, says women with strong mental resilience have the same opportunities to enter the racing world.
“Not everyone has the mental strength to ride a horse. Some people are afraid. Even among men, not all of them can ride horses,” she said.
Her ability was also acknowledged by her trainer. According to Abdi Salam, Najla only needs a little more refinement to become a professional jockey.
“She has great potential, strong ambition, solid determination, and a tough mentality,” Abdi Salam praised.
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