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Trailblazing Panel Announced for the Women in Racing Summit at York Racecourse on 14th May 2025

The highly anticipated Women in Racing Summit is set to take place at York Racecourse on Wednesday, 14th May. The event, focused on balancing career ambition, personal life and wellbeing, is generously supported by Tattersalls, York Racecourse and RWK Goodman. The Summit brings together industry professionals and changemakers from across horseracing and beyond and WiR is thrilled to announce the powerhouse panel for this year’s event, which promises inspiring discussion, candid insights and essential networking opportunities.

Meet the Panel

 

Lisa O’Keefe MBE

A former international sportswoman, Lisa is a passionate advocate for women’s sport with over 15 years Senior Leadership experience in the sport and physical activity sector. She previously worked at Sport England as Executive Director of Sport and latterly Executive Director of Insight. Lisa’s achievements include redesigning Sport England’s approach to investing in National Governing Bodies of Sport, the creation of the award-winning Insight Directorate, and the globally recognised This Girl Can campaign. As Secretary General of IWG Women & Sport, Lisa also has responsibility for leading the Secretariat of IWG whilst hosted in the United Kingdom through to September 2026.

Rishi Persad

A popular and highly accomplished sports presenter, Rishi has represented a number of major television companies including the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Rishi has led some of the most high-profile events around the world covering golf, cricket, snooker, tennis and has represented the BBC at the last five Olympic Games. Horseracing remains where his heart is, and Rishi is an integral member of the talent teams at both ITV Racing and Racing TV and a Trustee of the Racing Foundation.

Julia Tyson

As Former Chief HR Officer at Lloyd’s of London, and now Chair of the Horseracing Industry People board, Julia is an experienced executive director. Julia has developed and delivered successful people, change and culture programmes across multiple sectors over a 40-year career. Her latest focus is building a portfolio of non-executive director roles centered on skills and culture development, along with coaching and mentoring HR Directors.

Joanna Mason

Joanna is a familiar face in the weighing room as a Yorkshire-based Professional Flat jockey. Playing a key part in the David and Michael Easterby Racing team, Joanna is one of the north of England’s leading jockeys and has ridden winners in the International Challenge in Saudi Arabia and the Shergar Cup. Joanna has an MSc in Sports Nutrition and can speak with authority on career progression, resilience and opportunity in racing.

The panel will be hosted by renowned racing journalist and broadcaster Vanessa Ryle, a long-time contributor to Sky Sports Racing.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation – book your tickets on the link below. The early bird discount is available until Monday 28th April.

The Women in Racing Summit starts before racing. The event features keynote speeches, interactive panel sessions, Q&A opportunities, and networking with industry professionals in a relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy the fantastic backdrop of action at York Racecourse on Tattersalls Musidora Stakes Day. Whether you’re already working in racing, passionate about sport, or exploring career opportunities, this summit is an essential date for your calendar.

A full timetable will be published shortly, including a section on WiR’s flagship parenthood programme Racing Home.

Book your ticket here

For questions, press enquiries or sponsorship opportunities, please contact: lucy.gurney@womeninracing.co.uk

Racing Welfare seeks Welfare Committee Member – Beneficiary Representative

Racing Welfare is a national charity supporting all those working and retired from the British horseracing and breeding industry. We are seeking a Beneficiary Representative to sit on our Welfare Committee, who shares our vision that everyone from the horseracing and breeding industry and community feels supported and can thrive. We are looking for someone who has a passion for the work we do and who is familiar with the challenges of running a national organisation.

What will you be doing?

The Welfare Committee meet twice a year, usually via video-call but occasionally in person. All of our meetings are inclusive and welcoming, we value diversity of thought and encourage constructive challenge from our committee members and executive.

The meetings are currently routinely attended by trustees and committee members, the Chief Executive and the Director of Welfare Programmes. The meetings are held to monitor, review and develop the Welfare strategy, policy and compliance; to consider such individual welfare cases that might be brought to the Committee; to review and consider the impact of legislative changes; and consider any current issues or challenges facing this area of the charity, provide advice to the main board to help assist with high level decision making.

There will also be the requirement to undertake a committee member induction which we anticipate being a one-off one-day commitment. Each year, in addition to the committee meetings we anticipate another two days commitment would be required.

We invite committee members to join the Charity for an initial period of three years with the possibility of Trusteeship after one year.

We are particularly interested in hearing from those who have:

We are seeking to add to the expertise that we have on the Welfare committee, through an enthusiastic individual who is looking to develop their own skills and experience and has:

  • Over three years’ experience working in the horseracing industry.
  • A passion for supporting and representing the people who make racing happen.
  • First-hand experience of welfare services within the sport, with a desire to share that perspective.
  • A strong interest in the personal and professional wellbeing of racing’s workforce.
  • A commitment to shaping and contributing to a long-term welfare strategy for the industry.

Please note, as this post will involve governing and advising on services that have direct contact with young people and vulnerable adults alongside some work of a sensitive nature it will be subject to a satisfactory, enhanced DBS disclosure. We also make checks on staff working with vulnerable adults and young people against the DBS barred lists.

What difference will you make?

Demand for the Charity’s services is higher than ever. The Charity continues to review, improve, and expand a large portfolio of welfare and wellbeing services which make a significant difference to the lives of individuals working in horseracing, their employers, the horse racing industry and in turn, communities and society. You will be part of this team, providing crucial advice to help shape the welfare strategy ensuring the charity continues to deliver high quality and impactful services. If you’re passionate about racing and the people who power it and you want to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

What is in it for you?

You will enjoy working alongside and learning from an inspiring and knowledgeable team of executives, committee members and trustees. You will have the opportunity to develop your board member skills and there may be opportunity to progress to a trustee position after 12 months.

How do you apply?

Download the candidate pack here.

You can either:

  • Send a covering letter and CV by either post or email to the addresses detailed below.
  • Send a short video telling us why you are interested in the role, your relevant experience and what you feel you can bring to the role.

Application addresses:

By Post: Lissie Mitchell, Racing Welfare, 20b Park Lane, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8QD

By email: lmitchell@racingwelfare.co.uk Applications will close on 9th of May 2025.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

  • All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
  • All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).

Racing Foundation seeks new Trustee

The Racing Foundation is seeking a new Trustee to join its Board from July 1, 2025. To date, the Foundation has given nearly £40million of grants to support charitable purposes associated with the horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industry.

This is an exciting period to join the Foundation as it enters its new three-year strategy for 2025-2027 and further develops its role within the sport to ensure it has a positive impact in its key areas of focus – equine welfare, racing’s people and ESG (including social impact, social licence and environmental sustainability).

The Foundation is looking for someone who has a strong empathy with its charitable purpose. An interest in racing is essential, as is some prior experience of working within a charitable environment, either as a Trustee, volunteer, or employee. At this time, one or more of the following experiences, knowledge and professional backgrounds would be of particular relevance to the role:

  • – Experience and/or knowledge of grant-making.
  • – Experience and/or knowledge of environmental sustainability.
  • – Experience and/or knowledge of social impact/social licence.
  • – A voice that represents the next generation.

The full advert and role description can be found on the Racing Foundation website via this link. Please do share this link with anyone within your organisation who might be interested, or with your members where appropriate.

Women in Racing announce Summit at York

Earlybird tickets are now live!

The Women in Racing Summit will take place at York Racecourse on Tattersalls Musidora Stakes Day, Wednesday 14th May, during the Dante Festival, hosted in partnership with York Racecourse and Tattersalls.

The event will explore the theme “Work, Life and Winning – balancing ambition, personal life and wellbeing”.

WiR Chair Lucy Gurney said: “This year’s theme explores a number of strands of our work including career progression, menopause, parenting and mentoring, to name just a few. I know the committee can’t wait to host this flagship event alongside our partners York Racecourse and Tattersalls and to welcome members and non members, our funders and partners to join us. As ever, our aim is to connect women from across the sport and collectively tackle issues affecting our female workforce.”

Key information:
The Women in Racing Summit will take place in the Knavesmire Boxes overlooking the home straight.

  • – Circa 10.30am – Guest arrival & breakfast
  • – 11.00am – Introduction and welcome followed by panel discussion hosted by Vanessa Ryle
  • – Event wrap up following by afternoon racing with cash bar service and you can use the Knavesmire boxes as your base for the afternoon

Panellist announcement and further details to follow in due course. The event will be an opportunity to learn more about Women in Racing programmes, including Racing Home which is generously funded by the Racing Foundation and Kindred.

Raceday admission badges are included in event price and can be collected on arrival.

Members and non-members, men and women are welcome. Discounted earlybird tickets are available until 28th April.

Click here for details and tickets

Jason Singh, Associate Director of Marketing at Tattersalls, said: “Tattersalls are delighted to be partnering with Women in Racing this year as the sponsor of their Summit at York racecourse on Tattersalls Musidora Stakes Day. At Tattersalls, we value the significant contributions of women in the racing industry and are pleased to support an event that brings women together to share their experiences and insights.”

Maiti Stirling, Marketing and Sponsorship Manager at York Racecourse, said: “We are delighted to be working with Women in Racing this year as the host venue for their Summit. As a workplace that has many female employees we are delighted that there is an offering for women in the industry to join together and share their experiences.”

 

Further funding from Kindred Group plc announced to support the work of ‘Racing Home’

When betting and racing come together in a constructive way, there is the potential to create a real force for social good. Nowhere has this been better illustrated than by the Racing Home project, which has been helping to make meaningful changes to the lives of working parents in the horse racing industry since its inception in 2019.

Women in Racing is delighted to announce the continued funding of the Racing Home project by Kindred Group, with their contribution this time of £50,000 meaning that Kindred’s generous support for the project to date has now reached £100,000 over the past five years.
Moreover, as part of the next round of the Racing Home project, Kindred will be pioneering the first ever study on menopause in the horse racing industry.
This unique project will work with the constituents of the horse racing industry to gauge understanding of how menopause affects the female workforce across the sport, and what steps can be taken to support racing’s people at this stage of their life.

Dr. Kate Clayton-Hathway, in affiliation with Oxford Brookes University Business School, will be creating a working group to commence this work in 2025 and will also look to collaboratively work with Womenkind, Kindred’s employee network of women, to maximise impact on their office-based employees.
Women in Racing and Kindred are delighted to be involved in leading the conversation on menopause, and look forward to seeing the results of the next phase positively impacting a forgotten generation of women. Pre-, peri- and post-menopausal women are increasingly being recognised as a vital component of the future of our sport, and the team behind Racing Home are thrilled to announce this exciting news.

Lucy Gurney, chair of Women in Racing, said: “The Women in Racing team is proud of our partnership with Kindred and both grateful and delighted to be part of their unique approach to sport sponsorship through Racing Home. The number of working parents supported by Racing Home continues to increase its reach through its portal, Grassroots Ambassadors, podcasts, videos and groundbreaking Post- Pregnancy Rehabilitation and Support Programme.

Kindred’s generous support alongside the Racing Foundation, has enabled us to continue to make an impact in supporting parents and women of all ages. The impact of menopause now needs addressing in the racing industry and with Kindred’s funding, we can produce research that will meaningfully start the conversation.”

Neil Banbury, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer at Kindred said: “We have proudly worked with Women in Racing for a number of years, and it is an organisation that is delivering truly outstanding outcomes for a sport we all love. As a strong supporter of racing, Kindred is committed to ensuring the wider racing community feels the benefits of our footprint – and we are confident that this latest funding will deliver vital knowledge and understanding to help drive the ‘Racing Home’ project to the next level.”

To learn more: www.racinghome.org.uk

Julia visits… Racing Home

In the latest episode of Julia Visits, Chair of the Racing Foundation Julia Budd learns more about Racing Home and its Post-Pregnancy Rehabilitation and Support Programme. With funding from the Racing Foundation, this Women in Racing initiative supports mothers in the racing industry as they transition back to riding.

With over 70% of new entrants into racing being female, programmes like this are crucial in ensuring women receive the support they need to balance career and family life.

Watch the full video below to hear from Julia and the Racing Home team.

Julia Feilden and Shelley Birkett make history as first mother-daughter joint license holders

2025 is the first time a joint training licence has been granted to a mother and daughter. Julia Feilden trained under her maiden name for over 20 years before her daughter, Shelley Birkett, joined her in the training ranks in January. This year therefore sees them breaking new ground.

Both mother and daughter have ridden winners and worked with other trainers, such as Clive Brittain and William Knight to name a few. The new green and gold branding for Birkett Racing will become a regular sight on racecourses this year. Apprentice, Chloe Lyons, has joined the team and will be making the most of her riding opportunities with support from Julia and Shelley.

Shelley says: ‘We have some nice 2 year olds coming along. The older horses have wintered well and are continuing their racing careers with us.’

Julia added: ‘We are a small friendly yard committed to doing the best for our horses and owners. Our horses benefit from the peace and quiet of Exning, which is minutes away from Newmarket itself, with easy access to Newmarket Heath. The horses are at the centre of everything we do. They are treated as individuals and our extensive turn out facilities allow them to enjoy the sun on their backs and to just be horses as well as athletes.’

The care continues after a horse retires from Birkett racing too. Shelley confirms, ‘We have a great network of good people to rehome the horses so they continue to have the best of care. The increasing scrutiny of the public social licence to race and ride horses is something we really care about here’.

With a welcoming open door policy, the family feel extends to all their owners, big or small. Here’s hoping 2025 is historic for Julia and Shelley in more ways than their licence first.

https://birkettracing.co.uk/

New Year, New Mentor?

January marks National Mentoring Month, a time to celebrate the transformative power of mentoring and its role in shaping successful careers and lives. For many women, mentoring can be a game-changer. It’s more than just guidance; it’s a pathway to growth, confidence, and connection.

The Women in Racing mentoring programme has worked with over 150 women since it’s inception and we are keen to encourage all of our members to consider how mentoring may benefit their own lives.

Why Mentoring Matters…

Mentoring can have a profound impact on professional and personal development:
1. Career Advancement:
Navigating the racing industry can be daunting. A mentor provides invaluable insights, shares their experiences, and offers tailored advice to help you overcome obstacles and seize opportunities. They can guide you on how to hone your skills, build a winning mindset, and position yourself for leadership roles.

2. Personal Development:
Beyond career growth, mentors support your journey of self-discovery. They encourage you to set ambitious goals, push your boundaries, and unlock your potential. Whether it’s mastering a new skill or tackling challenges head-on, mentoring fosters resilience and self-awareness.

3. Boosting Confidence:
One of the most significant barriers for women is self-doubt. Mentors help build confidence by believing in your abilities and celebrating your achievements. This positive reinforcement empowers you to trust your instincts and excel.

4. Expanding Your Network:
The horseracing industry, like many others, thrives on relationships. Mentors can connect you with key players, introduce you to new opportunities, and expand your professional circle. A strong network not only opens doors but also provides a support system throughout your career.

Making Mentoring Work for You

Here are some tips to make the most of mentoring:

Be Open:
Embrace feedback and be willing to step out of your comfort zone.
Set Clear Goals:
Identify what you want to achieve through mentorship, whether it’s career guidance, skill development, or networking.
Stay Committed:
Mentorship is a two-way relationship. Regular communication and mutual respect are key.
Pay It Forward:
As you grow, consider becoming a mentor yourself. Sharing your experiences can inspire the next generation of women in horseracing.

Celebrating Women in Racing

This National Mentoring Month, let’s recognise the mentors who have paved the way for countless women in horseracing. Their guidance and support have helped break barriers and foster a more inclusive industry.
If you’re looking for mentoring opportunities tailored to women working in, or looking to join the racing industry, we encourage you to reach out to Women in Racing to find a mentor who can support your journey. Building connections with those who share your passion can make all the difference.
Let’s continue to develop a community where every woman has the chance to thrive. Together, we can accelerate progress and create a legacy of empowerment. Here’s to the mentors and mentees driving change, one step at a time!

Find out more about mentoring here

Member story for Prematurity Awareness Month

November is Prematurity Awareness Month, a global movement to raise awareness of premature birth and the impact it can have on families. We’d like to thank this member for sharing their story in the hope that it helps and supports someone else on their journey. Contact any committee member if you would like to contribute your own member story on any women’s issue.
November is prematurity awareness month and also my daughter’s birthday so it’s poignant opportunity for our family to reflect back on her early arrival and our chaotic start to parenting. I share our story here not to worry anyone (we are all fine now) but to raise awareness of the challenges that come with prematurity and to offer solidarity to anyone who has been or may go through a similar experience.
At 34 weeks into a straight-forward, low-risk pregnancy we went to hospital to check everything was ok during a lunch break following noticing reduced fetal movements. I thought I was being paranoid but my instincts proved true; after 30 minutes on a monitor our lives changed in an instant and our baby girl was delivered by emergency c-section under general anaesthetic, six weeks early and she was in poor condition.
Everyone’s birth story is different but that certainly wasn’t what I was expecting for mine, panicking in the moments before the anaesthetic, my husband shut outside the theatre and coming round hours later unsure how or where our baby was. What followed was a whirlwind of anxiety and NICU (the amazing baby intensive care ward at our local hospital). The care we all received was second-to-none and it was a rollercoaster while she fought through her first weeks of life as we stood by relatively helpless.
Three weeks in NICU felt like three months – from ventilation to feeding worries, jaundice and 24-hour monitoring, surrounded by other parents on the same rollercoaster as us but at different stages and some with unimaginable outcomes. We are the lucky ones and despite our fears she came home and took her time but she is thriving now. She met her development milestones according to her due date, not her earlier birth date which I now understand is normal. A year on we can’t imagine becoming her parents any other way.
My role in racing is mostly home office-based. I am fortunate that my employer was completely helpful and led by me throughout my pregnancy, the emergency birth six weeks before I was due to go on maternity leave and throughout my almost year of maternity leave. I certainly felt I needed that time to adjust and I know that is a luxury that many could not indulge in for their own reasons. I also benefitted from using the Racing Home online hub and rehabilitation programme physio which I recommend to anyone.
If premature birth is something you have experienced or go on to experience there are resources out there to help. Bliss charity and Tommy’s are good places to start and there are others when you search online. It is also encouraging to know that these charities are investing in research to better understand premature birth.
Prematurity can throw up additional challenges with things like infant feeding, sleep, gut health, reflux, starting solids and more and I struggled to find information in the context of premature babies to help me, particularly during that intense ‘fourth trimester’. Not to mention the time it can take to recover emotionally, which can affect all new parents.
In hindsight my advice is to seek out experts, ask for help. DO NOT compare your baby to others it is a thief of joy and they develop at their own pace – there is nothing you can do about it and worrying does not help. I’ve asked myself countless times what I could have done differently to prevent her early arrival and stay in NICU but have found peace (mostly) with the fact I’ll probably never know and that I knew enough at the right time to go to hospital.
It’s worth pointing out that UK statutory paternity leave is two weeks long and our experience showed us that this is not enough. I couldn’t drive post c-section for six weeks and we absolutely needed to be in hospital every day and needed to stick together beyond hospital to adjust to tube feeding and recovering between us. Fortunately my partner is self-employed so he could drop everything but others in NICU alongside us were not so lucky.
Our story has its lasting effects in terms of health anxiety on my part but it taught us our own ability to cope under pressure, how amazingly strong tiny humans can be and how brilliant our health service can be too.
Visit Racing Home for more information on parenting in the racing industry.

Racing Together Industry Day details announced and funded tickets available for small charities

Nottingham Racecourse will host Racing Together Industry Day on 6th February 2025. This key event brings together a range of leaders and active practitioners working across community engagement, in racing and other sports.

The theme of this year’s Racing Together Industry Day is: ‘Transactional or Transformational – the real value of racing’

Baroness Dido Harding, Senior Steward at The Jockey Club is confirmed as the keynote speaker. Other contributors from horseracing; the wider sporting world and across the charity and commercial sectors will be announced in due course.

Delegate prices have been held at this year’s rate and early-bird tickets at £75 are now on sale until 6th January, and can be purchased at www.racingtogether.co.uk/industry-day

The day includes welcome refreshments and lunch. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to meet a very special retired racehorse as part of the event.

John Blake, CEO of Racing Together said: “The support and feedback from the inaugural Industry Day at Ascot and also this year’s event at Chester, evidenced an appetite for honest exploration of the progress and potential of community engagement across racing.

“Building on past themes, while bringing new voices and experiences to our audience is the challenge of this day and will be the measure of its success. The hope is for guest speakers to trigger an assessment of whether racing can claim an authentic role supporting social cohesion, or if its range of community outcomes amount to an intermittent by-product of commercial success.”

Racing Together Industry Day is supported by the HBLB; the Racecourse Association and The Racing Foundation.

The full-day seminar programme and speaker information will follow in due course.

The Racing Foundation has kindly agreed to cover the cost of tickets for up to two representatives of small charities. Email alex@racingtogether.co.uk to apply.

Details and tickets here