Gabby Logan's 'heart was racing' as she watched daughter make horse racing debut

Gabby Logan said her ‘heart was racing’ as she watched her 19-year-old daughter make her racing debut.

Showjumper Lois Logan was competing in the Markel Magnolia Cup, the annual charity race staged during the Glorious Goodwood meeting involving 12 leading women from business, sport, fashion and media. The race over five and a half furlongs has raised more than £2.7 million since its launch in 2011 and this year’s race supported the King’s Trust International’s Project Lehar, which operates in India.

The race was won by London-based insurance underwriter Sophie Forsyth on the horse Woodcote Girl, trained by Ed de Giles. Lois finished in fifth place on Spirit Of Ecstasy, a horse provided by trainer Andrew Balding, cheered on by her mother and father, the former Scottish Rugby International Kenny Logan.

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She said: ‘‘It was over so quickly and such a thrill. The horse was incredible and put up such a fight against strong opposition.

“We finished in midfield, which was not a bad result. I had to push from the third furlong because they set off so quickly. I have got more of an edge for winning now and am not so scared of speed. It was really good fun.”

BBC Match of the Day presenter Gabby Logan said: ‘‘It’s harder to watch than rugby, which is so long – and you have so many more chances to make an impact. It is over so quick and like being a sprinter.

“All those 4.40am starts and the months of physical training have been worth it. Since she broke up from university, she has been going down to Andrew Balding’s stable at Kingsclere four times a week.

“I have been down there to see her training. It is such a different style of riding to what she has grown up doing. She has loved it. She will definitely go down again if they need her to ride out.”

She added to the Telegraph: “My heart was racing far more than hers. It peaked at 160 [beats per minute.”