Events – Women in Racing

WiR Panel: “Beyond the Title: Redefining Leadership in Horseracing”

On 17 July, WiR hosted a fascinating panel discussion at The National Stud in Newmarket themed “Beyond the Title: Redefining Leadership in Horseracing”.

Hosted by Eileen Harte, the panel featured National Stud CEO Anna Kerr, owner of Culworth Grounds Stud Sophie Buckley, Head of Careers Marketing at BHA Zoe Elliott, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association CEO Naomi Mellor and Founder of KONEKTT Linda Nguyenova.

WiR Members can access a link to the full panel discussion via the Members Area of this website

Panel Announcement for “Beyond the Title: Redefining Leadership in Horseracing”

We are delighted to announce the panel line up for our next event “Beyond the Title: Redefining Leadership in Horseracing”, on 17th July at The National Stud in Newmarket.

Anna Kerr

CEO, The National Stud

Anna has worked in a variety of racing and bloodstock roles across the globe including at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, Goodwood Racecourse and Paul Moroney Bloodstock. She joined The National Stud in 2020 to help drive the development of their education programme and marketing. Anna was appointed as CEO in 2022 and is focussed on delivering the strategy for the stud in its mission to support the long-term sustainability of the British Thoroughbred.

Linda Nguyenova

CEO and Founder, KONEKTT

Linda is a founder, investor, and board leader with a career built on backing ambitious people and building things from the ground up. As Founder & CEO of KONEKTT, a data-driven equine care and performance management platform for racing and livery yards – she brings that same drive to modernising the equine industry she has been part of since childhood.

Across seven board roles in her Private Equity career, Linda has led and shaped organisations at every stage, from early-stage accelerators to established funds.

At BGF she spearheaded a £300m commitment to female-powered businesses in the UK; at Endless LLP she developed deep operational and investment expertise; and as a Venture Partner at HUKM Group she guides tech founders from first concept through to launch. Through her board role at The Whole Point, she works to make funding more accessible for regional female founders.

Linda is committed to bringing stronger leadership, better data, and greater ambition to the world of racing – on and off the track.”

Zoe Elliott

Head of Careers Marketing, BHA

Zoe is a senior leader in British horseracing. Her work alongside industry leaders in the Industry People space spans early careers programmes, talent pathways, coaching, digital learning, workplace culture, wellbeing, and equality, diversity and inclusion.

As Head of Careers Marketing at the British Horseracing Authority, Zoe leads a marketing team delivering integrated marketing strategies to support recruitment into the industry. Her work aligns closely with community engagement, education partnerships, and collaboration with training providers across the racing and further education sectors.

With a diverse background in marketing, Zoe has held roles across governing bodies, trade associations, charities, and commercial organisations within the horseracing sector. This breadth of experience underpins her strategic insight and collaborative approach which she combines with a passion for empowering others to succeed.

Sophie Buckley

Owner, Culworth Grounds Farm

Sophie Buckley is the owner of Culworth Grounds Farm, a specialist thoroughbred breeding and sales operation. Sophie began her career as a pinhooker 12 years ago and has been breeding horses for the past eight years. Under her leadership, Culworth Grounds Farm has developed into a diverse equine business, offering stallion services, broodmare boarding and foaling, yearling preparation, and sales and pretraining. With a hands-on approach and a strong focus on horsemanship, Sophie is dedicated to producing and developing quality thoroughbred while building lasting relationship with owners, breeders, and buyers.

Naomi Mellor

CEO, Thoroughbred Breeders Association

After 18 years as an equine vet, Naomi joined the TBA as Chief Executive in 2025. She has been involved with both Women in Racing and Racing Home since 2016, including a spell on the WiR committee, and is passionate about supporting women in their careers within the racing and bloodstock sectors. Naomi has previously worked in both general and hospital equine practice, spent several stud seasons in Australia and been a Veterinary Officer at the BHA. She is also the founder of an audio production business, Everybody Media, and the International Women’s Podcast Awards, through which she built multiple global partnerships, including with the BBC and Amazon Music.

Panel Host – Eileen Harte

Eileen is a Therapeutic Coach, Adlerian Psychotherapist, and Equine-Assisted Practitioner based in North Essex. With over 20 years’ experience as Commercial Director of Keith Harte Bloodstock Ltd and more than a decade mentoring within the racing and bloodstock industry, she combines business expertise with psychology, coaching, and equine-assisted learning. Eileen is passionate about helping people uncover their strengths, challenge limiting beliefs, and develop the confidence and courage to create meaningful change.

Book your tickets by visiting our Events Page

Women in Racing Webinar – Safe To Say

On 24 June Women in Racing were joined by safeguarding expert Annabel Timmins for a 1 hour webinar titled “Safe To Say: Turning Concerns into Conversations”, supported by the British Horseracing Authority.

The webinar aimed to help attendees start the conversation in identifying concerning behaviours and navigating the different ways in which people respond. We explored the spectrum of what constitutes concerning behaviour, the barriers that prevent some people from speaking up, common trauma responses, and busted some myths such as “If it was serious, she would have said something at the time” and “False allegations are the main risk an organisation has to manage.”

We were also joined by Helen Brooke, Safeguarding and Human Welfare Manager at BHA, to explain the RaceWISE reporting system for anyone who wished to raise an anonymous concern.

After the webinar Annabel said: “It was incredibly encouraging to be invited to deliver this webinar, and the level of attendance and engagement showed there is a real appetite to have these conversations. When people are willing to talk openly about inappropriate behaviour and how to challenge it, we take an important step towards creating a safer, more respectful racing industry for women.”

Women in Racing Chair, Cheryl Caves, said: “Our sincere thanks to Annabel for delivering on this important topic, and to the BHA for supporting us in hosting it. Everyone has a role to play in creating safer environments, and this webinar is one part of building momentum towards that goal. We hope that starting the conversation in this way has both increased awareness and empowered people to keep talking. We have been really pleased by the feedback so far, and it was truly encouraging to see so many people come together to attend.”

A recording of the webinar is available to WiR members via the Members Area of this website.

You can follow Annabel on LinkedIn here.

Find out more about RaceWISE

Beyond the Title: Redefining Leadership in Horseracing – 17th July, National Stud, Newmarket

Leadership is about far more than a job title. It’s about influence, confidence, advocacy, and creating opportunities for others. Join us at The National Stud in Newmarket for a day dedicated to exploring what leadership means in horseracing today, and how we can encourage, support and champion more women to step forward and lead in their own way.

The day will bring together people from across the industry for networking, discussion and shared learning in beautiful surroundings. Highlights include a panel discussion examining the different forms leadership can take, the importance of lifting others as we progress, and the role each of us can play in shaping a more inclusive and supportive industry. The programme also includes opportunities to connect with fellow attendees over lunch, as well as an exclusive tour of the stud.

Whether you hold a senior position, manage a team, or are simply looking to make a difference, this event will challenge traditional ideas of leadership and celebrate the impact women have across every level of racing.

Panel guests to be announced shortly.

Book your tickets here: Events

Women in Racing Safeguarding Webinar – 24 June 2026

Everyone has the right to feel safe, respected and valued within racing. Yet we know that speaking up about inappropriate behaviour can sometimes feel difficult, whether through uncertainty, fear of consequences or concerns about being believed.

Join us for this free lunchtime webinar, hosted by Annabel Timmins, who will provide an opportunity to start the conversation about creating safer environments for women in racing. Together, we will explore what inappropriate behaviour can look like, the barriers that can prevent people from raising concerns, and the importance of fostering a culture where everyone feels confident to speak up.

The session will reinforce a simple but important message: if someone’s behaviour makes you feel unsafe, uncomfortable or disrespected, you have the right to say so. Your voice matters, and concerns raised deserve to be listened to.

By encouraging open conversations and greater understanding, we can all play a part in creating environments where everyone feels safe and supported.

Thanks to the generous support of the British Horseracing Authority this webinar is free to attend for members and non-members.

Book your place on our Events page: Events

If you are unable to attend the event live, we will be recording the session and making it available exclusively to WiR Members via our YouTube channel.

Cut a Dash – Interview with Alex Greaves

Alex Greaves spoke to WiR Committee Member Kimberley Priori.

On the 30th anniversary of her Epsom Derby debut, trailblazing ex-professional flat jockey Alex Greaves talks making her mark the world over and that ever-important neck strap

“Nabbing the race from the favourite for the Concorde Cup in South Africa as the crowd chanted “Lady! lady! lady!” – astonished that it was a woman was on the back of the horse – that memory still really tickles me…”

Harare racetrack in Zimbabwe, 1992 sets the picture in a pre-Apartheid South Africa at an exorbitantly attended meeting.

That trailblazing jockey Alex Greaves crystallised her most encountered historical moment as the first female jockey to ride in the Epsom Derby may not arrive as news to some. Rather, it was prefaced by some of her more levelling appointments as a world-travelling professional rider.

South Africa, recalled then as the fruit bowl of the world, an agricultural powerhouse with its lush greenery and heady, feverish climate, held undertones of a tangibly tense atmosphere and fortress mentality.

But it proved alluring for Alex, as she became the first licensed female jockey in the territory with a booking in the Concorde Cup.

“You’d get changed in restrooms, the male showers, wherever was suitable. It was certainly not purpose-built for a female presence there. But I just remember the stands being absolutely packed to the rafters, as the South African racetracks were in those days. They really are and were all about their racing.”

Held to celebrate the racetrack’s centenary year, it provided the spotlight she would become accustomed to in time.

“I beat Muis (Michael, multiple champion South African jockey) Roberts a short head on my horse There’s Magic, and it was just this uproar – to top that, they then saw that I was a woman!” she laughs.

Alex Greaves, the first female rider in the Epsom Derby, the 1000 Guineas, the first female apprentice jockey to ride out her full 3-pound claim, recorded a brace of approximately 300 winners at close of her riding career.

Her principal feat was becoming the first woman to ride a Group One winner in Britain, when she dead-heated for first in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Ya Malak, trained by David Nicholls.

“There certainly wasn’t the professionalism and structure that there is now. But you just got on with it. I’ve always had that Yorkshire mentality, and I was simply doing my job” she instructs.

“In the end, you’re in a male-dominated sport and you have to fight your corner. I’m also totally stubborn and if I believed in something, I didn’t give an inch.”Back to Epsom.

Greaves made the international press when partnering resolute 500-1 outsider Portuguese Lil, the filly trained by husband David Nicholls in the 1996 edition of the Epsom Derby. Further, the pair had also campaigned in 1000 Guineas, adding to her series of firsts.

This feat led by example that the qualifying and very delight in participation of an Epsom Derby, would open the door for female representation across elite race-riding as we know it today.

“I was there to enjoy it, plain and simple. I thought “I’m gonna make the most of this experience” and I did. On paper, it was no different to any other race, other than it was over a distance I’d never ridden over and the build-up was obviously greater than anything I’d ever known in my career up to that point” admits Alex.

“If you hit the undulations right, it would be make things a lot easier for you. But of course, you didn’t make a big deal out of it just because of the anticipation surrounding the race. It was just the same scenario, as if the Southern lads were coming up North to ride at Ripon, who’d never ridden there before.”

In truth, she has perpetually charted new ground since she began as a horsewoman. The sheer capacity to hold a horse on the gallops as a tender 12-year-old riding out, would have set her apart.

“A real judge of a race and someone who I really learned from was (trainer) David Barron. I was his apprentice jockey and he really dealt me some great opportunities. You need that as a young person in the sport, male or female, so he really made a mark on my career.”

Greaves maintains it was her horsemanship that kept her on side with more precarious runners in the string.

A poster boy for the handler known for his campaigning of top-tier sprinters, the David Nicholls-trained Proud Native would consistently run over his assigned ability, including his win in the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes and a reserve in the coveted Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint. You might owe this to Alex’s rapport and perseverance with the plainly quirky individual.

“Proud Native was not a straightforward ride. He was a Peter Savill-owned horse, who was another great supporter of ours. The lads just didn’t want to get on him, but I had no qualms about riding him everyday and I really managed to get a tune out of him.”

“When we’d go racing, he needed a Chifney bit at the start and would do a lap after you tried to pull him up.”

His plight in keeping sound points to the fact he would have given everything to his racing owing to Alex.

“When I rode him at Goodwood, I just remember to keep on gripping my neck strap. But when he knew you had confidence in him, he would bounce off it and give it back to you in spades, and because of that, he was great fun.”

She is not pontifical when dealt with the question on her counsel to the new wave of professional lady jockeys. Her ‘straight as an arrow’ demeanour softens; Greaves is instead sympathetic in her view of the next generation.

“It’s a very underrated fact, but a race isn’t always won and lost in the last one hundred yards. People forget that, especially the armchair jockeys who see one tiny perspective from their television” opines Alex.

“There are the other jockeys’ manoeuvres, the other runners and so many more factors a jockey has to contend with, in order to position their horse from the break to that particular point in the race.”

It would be remiss not to touch on the meaning of her legacy.

“I miss the camaraderie of riding professionally, but I still ride out everyday. Keeping my weight down was an issue, so I don’t miss the lack of eating and drinking. And I never want to see a sweatsuit ever again.”

“It’s nice to see that professional female jockeys have more opportunities, that they are more accepted in the weighing room and that there is more structure in place like jockeys’ agents for example, so that you can get on with the riding. It’s great to have broken down some barriers in that sense.”

When people talk about her legacy, what does she hope they say?

In a super coolly coded retort. “The girl did good.”

Quite.

Alex was a guest on Luck on Sunday on 31st May. You can watch the interview here: Alex Greaves on Luck on Sunday

Women in Racing Welcomes First Male Mentors

Welcoming Our First Male Mentors

We are incredibly proud of the strength, diversity, and generosity of our mentoring community. While the Women in Racing Mentoring Programme is dedicated to supporting women across the racing industry, meaningful progress is achieved when everyone plays a role. That is why we are delighted to welcome a number of male mentors to the programme, whose experience, insight, and commitment will help us continue to support women at every stage of their careers.

We are thrilled to introduce our first male mentors: Brant Dunshea, David Letts, John Blake, Richard Wayman and Rishi Persad. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to each of them for supporting the programme and helping us create even more opportunities for women across the industry.

Brant Dunshea

Brant Dunshea was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in March 2026, having served as Acting Chief Executive Officer since January 2025. Prior to this, he held several senior regulatory roles within the BHA and has built an impressive career in both British and Australian racing administration.

As CEO, Brant leads the BHA, overseeing its strategic direction, governance, stakeholder engagement and operational delivery. He also represents British racing internationally through a number of senior positions, including within the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF), and the European Horseracing Scientific Liaison Committee (EHSLC).

Brant is passionate about personal and professional development and has benefited from mentoring throughout his career, both as a mentee and mentor.

Brant Dunshea: On Mentoring

What Mentoring Means to Me

My first memory of mentoring was informal but changed the course of my life. The horse trainer who I learned much from as a young person during my teenage years, supported me through a period where I took the decision to move from working hands on with the horses, to getting involved in the administrative side of the sport. That was how my professional career started, and over the years I’ve worked with various different formal and informal mentors.

Why I Got Involved

Mentoring has helped me make important decisions throughout my career. It has helped me build tools and skills to goal set and break down big problems into small ones in order to achieve longer term objectives. It’s helped me grow and learn, and reflect on my own successes and mistakes in a constructive way. I enjoy sharing my experiences with others to help them grow both professionally and personally.

A Fun Fact

After winning my qualifying round, I made the final of my age category in the 800m Track event at the 2009 World Masters Games. I really enjoy running and still do so every other day.

David Letts

Known for his clarity, empathy and collaborative style, David supports mentees to build confidence, navigate career challenges and identify meaningful next steps. He currently serves as Shared Ownership Lead at the Racehorse Owners Association, where he oversees a range of strategic initiatives and stakeholder engagement activities.

Alongside his professional role, David is deeply involved in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within racing. He chairs Racing With Pride and is a member of the sport’s Diversity Advisory Group. His academic achievements include a PhD exploring organisational culture and masculinities within British horseracing, as well as an MBA focused on the experiences of sexual minorities in racing.

David Letts: On Mentoring

What Mentoring Means to Me

I set up a reciprocal mentoring scheme in a previous role and saw the direct benefits of building relationships in this way across the organisation. Not only did it foster positive career conversations, but it also increased feelings of inclusion and greater sense of openness amongst colleagues.

I have previously mentored individuals and have taken great satisfaction in seeing their development, whether personal- or career-focused.

Why I Got Involved

I have personally seen the value that mentoring can provide to both mentee and mentor. I enjoy taking the time to build a rapport with any mentee to understand their motivations and aspirations, and collectively build a plan to help them reach their aims.

Women in Racing’s Mentoring Programme has added huge value to the racing industry over many years and it is a pleasure to be involved in this progression of the scheme to include male mentors for the first time.

John Blake

John Blake is Chief Executive of Racing to School, the education and community engagement charity that works across the horseracing industry. His career has spanned broadcasting, journalism, sports governance and the charitable sector, giving him a unique perspective on leadership and career development.

John has also held a variety of voluntary and trustee positions, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to supporting others both within and beyond racing.

John Blake: On Mentoring

What Mentoring Means to Me

I see Mentoring as a two-way process – of mutual value and learning. Such support is not about solving someone’s challenges but creating ideas and maybe re-framing through listening and asking questions. A Mentor’s contribution needs not to be limited to talking to someone but at times talking about them to help with visibility and progression.

I’ve been fortunate to have been asked to support a range of people during my career, often for specific things and at key times in their lives connected with their careers.

Why I Got Involved

I’ve always enjoyed a range of voluntary roles – as Trustee of a charity supporting those with Gambling-related harm; a Metropolitan Police Custody Suite Visitor that supported the rights of detainees, and my own career roles have provided insight and helped shape and improve my approach to mentoring, which I am keen to develop further.

A Fun Fact

As early jobs go, my time during student holidays as a gravedigger forms an indelible memory. Not a glamorous role for sure! But on my last day – of two summer stints – I was told by my boss that ‘one day you could be running this place’. A man can receive no greater compliment than that, as the intervening years have proved!

Richard Wayman

Richard Wayman rejoined the BHA in 2016 and currently serves as Director of Racing. In this role, he oversees the Racing Department, Participant Services team and the Handicappers, while also representing racing on the Levy Board and the industry’s Commercial Committee.

A lifelong racing enthusiast, Richard’s career has included roles with William Hill, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the British Racing School, the Racehorse Owners Association and the British Horseracing Board. He remains actively involved in racehorse ownership and brings extensive leadership and industry experience to the mentoring programme.

Rishi Persad

Rishi Persad is one of the UK’s most recognised and respected sports broadcasters. Since beginning his racing broadcasting career with Attheraces in 2002, he has gone on to work with Channel 4 Racing, the BBC, ITV Racing and Racing TV.

Beyond horseracing, Rishi has covered a wide range of sports including golf, tennis, cricket, eventing, snooker and bowls. He has also been part of the BBC’s coverage of the last six Olympic Games, highlighting his versatility and breadth of experience across the sporting world.

The Value of Diverse Perspectives

Our male mentors bring a wealth of experience from across the racing industry and beyond, offering valuable insight, guidance and support to mentees. Their willingness to share knowledge, champion development and invest their time reflects a collective commitment to supporting the progression of women in racing.

Mentoring is built on perspective, encouragement and opportunity. By bringing together mentors from different backgrounds and experiences, we can provide our mentees with access to a broader range of viewpoints, advice and professional networks.

We are extremely grateful to our male mentors for their support and contribution to the programme. Their involvement plays an important role in helping us build a more inclusive, supportive and progressive racing industry.

If you are considering the next step in your career, why not explore our mentor profiles on the mentoring page? We would love to help you find the right mentor to support your professional journey.

Tour of Ballydoyle with Women in Racing Ireland

Women in Racing Ireland (WinR) have kindly offered the opportunity for WiR members to attend their upcoming tour of Ballydoyle Stables on Wednesday 10th June for the same discounted rate as their own members – €100.

The itinerary includes a private guided tour of Ballydoyle Racing Stables and the historic Legacy Museum at Coolmore Stud; an exclusive private lunch at the Cashel Palace Hotel and coach transfers to and from Cashel Palace Hotel.

We are incredibly grateful to the WinR committee for offering access to this amazing opportunity to our members.

More information on how to take up this offer can be found in the Members Area.

WiR “Bringing Your A Game to Work” Panel & Tour of Weatherbys

On 22 May 2026, WiR were hosted by Weatherbys at their Wellingborough HQ for a panel discussion themed “Bringing Your A Game to Work”.

The panel featured Georgia Cox, Lilly Sahla, Sharon O’Regan, Dena Merson and Claire Taylor, who joined host and WiR Events Lead Kimberley Priori to talk about what “Bringing Your A Game” means to them.

WiR Members can view the panel discussion in full via the link in the Members’ Area.

International Women’s Day Webinar

On Friday 6 March, WiR hosted a free webinar exploring the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain,” and what it means for women in the racing industry.

The panel was hosted by Samantha Martin and featured Baroness Dido Harding (Senior Steward at the The Jockey Club), Sarah Guest (Assistant Trainer and 2023 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Employee of the Year), and Lydia Heywood (international event rider and founder of Cool Ridings).

Together, they explored what leadership means to them, what they have learned from those who have given their time, resources and experience to support them, and how they seek to pass that knowledge and support on to others in their current roles.

Catch up on the recording here: