British racing couple Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand have tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Herefordshire – and had an inflatable horse and jockey lead the celebrations.
The jockeys, who have a total of more than 1,400 winners, will start the British Flat season as a married couple after their wedding on Monday.
It is understood the Weighing Room couple, who became engaged in St Lucia on New Year’s Eve in 2020, were married surrounded by family and friends in historic St John’s church in Ivington, Herefordshire, where Doyle grew up.
Appearing effortlessly elegant, Doyle, 25, donned a sleeveless, lace wedding dress for her big day with a V-neckline, while Marquand, 23, looked handsome in a navy suit with a pink tie.
Footage of their special day shows the newly married couple leaving their venue to enter their white wedding car, only for an inflatable horse and an attendee in a jockey outfit to enter the celebrations and lead the way.
British racing couple Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand (pictured) have tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Herefordshire
The jockeys, who have a total of more than 1,400 winners, will start the British Flat season as a married couple after their wedding on Monday
Footage of their special day shows the newly married couple leaving their venue to enter their white wedding car, only for an inflatable horse and an attendee in a jockey outfit to enter the celebrations and lead the way
In a hilarious prank for the couple, one guest donned an inflatable horse costume while another wore a blue and yellow jockey outfit.
The colours were in tribute to Hollie, who wore the same silks when she made history when she rode Trueshan to victory in last year’s Goodwood Cup.
The champion flat racer set a new record for winners ridden in a British season by a female jockey in 2019. The following year, she came fourth in the Flat Jockeys Championship, which was the highest result for a woman to date.
She came third in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards in 2020, and was also named The Sunday Times sportswoman of the year.
Family friend Paul Laight said: ‘Hollie is an absolute star but she is also incredibly down to earth and humble. She is still exactly the same girl who was born and raised here and went to school here.
‘Everyone in the village is incredibly proud of her and everything that she has achieved.’
It is understood the Weighing Room couple, who became engaged in St Lucia on New Year’s Eve in 2020, were married surrounded by family and friends in historic St John’s church in Ivington, Herefordshire, where Doyle grew up. Pictured, the bride with one of her bridesmaids
Appearing effortlessly elegant, Doyle, 25, donned a sleeveless, lace wedding dress for her big day with a V-neckline, while Marquand, 23, looked handsome in a navy suit with a pink tie
Another guest said: ‘When Hollie and Tom saw the giant inflatable horse and jockey they absolutely fell about.
‘It was a lovely moment and nice touch that the jockey was wearing Hollie’s famous yellow and blue silk colours.’
The newlyweds will now head to this weekend’s Dubai World Cup, while the British season begins at Doncaster.
Marquand has three rides, headed by Grocer Jack in the big race. Doyle rides Saffron Beach in the Dubai Turf.
The couple, who have been together for around 10 years after meeting when they were competing on the pony racing circuit as teenagers, announced their engagement on New Year’s Eve 2020.
The couple (left), who have been together for around 10 years after meeting when they were competing on the pony racing circuit as teenagers, announced their engagement on New Year’s Eve 2020. Pictured right, the bride getting ready
Marquand broke the news on social media with a picture of him embracing Doyle wearing her engagement ring on the beach in St Lucia with the caption: ‘So err… thanks 2020 I guess?!’
Doyle ended 2019 with third place in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year having ridden 151 winners which included her first Group One success on Glen Shiel at Ascot in November.
She was also voted the first female Flat Jockey of the Year by her fellow riders in the Professional Jockeys Association.