JOCKEY Charlotte Jones is letting the fun be gin – by launching her own alcoholic drink with her rugby star boyfriend.
Jumps jockey Charlotte, 25, and Bristol Bears centre Sam Bedlow have already seen pre-orders of their XV gin sell out.
This latest venture comes at the same time the couple of eight years have expanded their business portfolio by branching out into property and land.
Charlotte, who has a first-class degree in equine science and met Sam at Myerscough College in Preston, knows racing is a lucrative sport – but for a short time, not a long time.
That is why she is putting plans in place now to have something to fall back on when she hangs up the saddle.
It is full speed ahead with horses for now – as clear in her mindblowing win on The Steward earlier this year, a race that left former Love Island star Chris Hughes saying: “I don’t think I have ever seen anything like that in my life.”
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t time to launch new businesses.
It just has to be done during her break in a 13-hour working day.
Charlotte, who landed a 9-1 double for trainer James Moffatt at Cartmel earlier this week, told SunSport: “The idea for the gin came when Sam and I had gone out for a meal.
“I’d had a couple of cocktails and thought, ‘wouldn’t it be lovely if we could make our own?’
‘I WANT BUSINESSES IN PLACE WHEN I FINISH RACING’
“Sam and I and our four friends who we started the business with all got talking and thought we could make a rugby-themed gin.
“It was a bit of a joke but serious at the time and then we all thought, ‘why not do it?’
“It’s XV – which stands for the 15 on a rugby team and we have our 15 unique botanicals to come up with our flavour.
“I’d like to have my own businesses when I finish racing – more than one ideally so I have something to fall back on.
“Don’t get me wrong, horses are my life and have been since I was six.
“With the gin being between six of us it will come on the side, but anything to make a bit of extra money I’m happy with!
“Sam and I are branching out into property and land as well, that’s the next plan for us.
“But horses are my priority – racing is the avenue I want to go down.”
The gin – which can be bought for £39 – is distilled at Chew Valley Distillery in Bristol.
That is located just six miles from Ashton Gate Stadium, where Sam plays for Challenge Cup winners Bristol.
Being professional sportspeople time together is precious and they meet up on free weekends when their schedules allow it.
That time is taking up now with plans for the future and calls to accountants, but Charlotte knows it will be worth it in the future if they act shrewdly now.
She added: “It’s important to have other interests. Racing is not just a job it’s a lifestyle.
“It has to take up a chunk of your time, it’s always going to be there and you have to be 100 per cent committed.
“But you do need downtime otherwise it can grind you down.
“You do need other things. I am highly ambitious and I won’t stop until I’m at the top.”
We’ll raise a glass (responsibly) to that.
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