WiR Mentoring Programme
Mentoring is a key objective of Women in Racing (WiR) and the group is delighted with the success of this formal programme with senior members as mentors, based in Scotland and northern England right through to the midlands and the south across all facets of the industry.
Mentors cover non-executive, corporate and entrepreneurial ambitions. The objective is to provide WiR members who cross many of the communities in racing with tailored support, encouragement, guidance and contacts as needed to help ensure that talented people can develop.
Click here to view our full Mentoring Guidelines.
In May 2025, WiR announced the launch, alongside Racing Home, of Mentors 4 Mums (M4M). This initiative aims to connect women with mentors from all areas of the racing sector – from grassroots roles to corporate leadership – and at every stage of motherhood. Whether planning a family, navigating pregnancy and maternity leave, returning to work, balancing career with childcare, or guiding teenagers through key life transitions, M4M offers a supportive network of experienced peers who understand the unique challenges of raising a family and parenting within the industry.
Look out for the M4M logo in Mentor biographies:
The door is always open for new mentors and mentees to join the programme, which remains a free benefit as part of your WiR membership.
Meet Our MentorsMeet the Women in Racing Mentors
Abbie Lynch
- Career Coaching, Current or Former Jockey, Education, Equestrian Sport, Equine Facilitated Learning, Health and Wellbeing, Mentors for Mums, Personal Development, Racing Yards
Ali White
- Career Coaching, Education, Maternity Support, Mentors for Mums, Personal Development, Racing Yards, Racing Yards and Teams, Safeguarding
Alison Horan
- Bloodstock, Charities, Global Industry, Leadership, Marketing, Mentors for Mums, Working with Boards
Anne Lambert
- Career Coaching, Charities, Corporate Governance, Leadership, Working with Boards
Baroness Dido Harding
- Change management, Corporate Governance, Current or Former Jockey, Former Amateur Rider, Leadership, Politics, Working with Boards
Carrie Ford
- Charities, Current or Former Jockey, Emotional Resilience, Racing Yards, Racing Yards and Teams
Charlotte Osborne
- Career Coaching, Corporate Governance, Education, Equestrian Sport, Leadership, Personal Development, Safeguarding
Cheryl Caves
- Administration, Bloodstock, Leadership, Maternity Support, Menopause, Mentors for Mums, Networking, Personal Development, Working with Boards
Chloe Martin
- Bloodstock, Charities, Education, Leadership, Media, Personal Development, Safeguarding, Working with Boards
Claire Kubler
- Bloodstock, Equine Science, Personal Development, Racehorse Trainer, Racing Yards and Teams
Claire Sheppard
- Bloodstock, Charities, Corporate Governance, Education, Leadership, Politics, Racecourses, Safeguarding, Working with Boards
Clare Blakely
- Insurance, Leadership, Mentors for Mums, Networking, Personal Development, Racing Yards, Recruitment, Working with Boards
David Letts
- Diversity and Inclusion, Equestrian Sport, Health and Wellbeing, Personal Development
Dawn Laidlaw
- Bloodstock, Career Coaching, Diversity and Inclusion, Education, Leadership, Personal Development, Working with Boards
Debbie Knott
- Administration, Charities, Health and Wellbeing, Leadership, Personal Development, Racing Yards, Tech
Dena Merson
- Bloodstock, Career Coaching, Diversity and Inclusion, Emotional Resilience, Leadership, Personal Development
Dominique Tortice
- Education, Equestrian Sport, Leadership, Maternity Support, Mentors for Mums, Personal Development, Racing Yards, Racing Yards and Teams, Safeguarding
Eileen Harte
- Bloodstock, Career Coaching, Charities, Leadership, Mentors for Mums, Personal Development, Racing Yards and Teams
Dr Eleanor Boden
- Career Coaching, Charities, Diversity and Inclusion, Education, Personal Development, Safeguarding
Emma Sayer
- Charities, Current or Former Jockey, Education, Equestrian Sport, Personal Development, Racing Yards, Safeguarding
Gemma Waterhouse
- Change management, Charities, Corporate Governance, Equestrian Sport, Leadership, Safeguarding, Working with Boards
Heather Johnson
- Education, Equestrian Sport, Leadership, Maternity Support, Mentors for Mums, Personal Development, Racing Yards, Racing Yards and Teams, Safeguarding
Helena Flynn
- Corporate Governance, Education, Equestrian Sport, Leadership, Personal Development, Working with Boards
Hetta Harris
- Education, Emotional Resilience, Leadership, Maternity Support, Mentors for Mums, Racehorse Trainer, Racing Yards, Racing Yards and Teams, Safeguarding
Jayne Greenman
- Career Coaching, Corporate Governance, Diversity and Inclusion, Emotional Resilience, Health and Wellbeing, Leadership, Mentors for Mums, Personal Development, Racecourses, Safeguarding, Working with Boards
John Blake
- Charities, Corporate Governance, Diversity and Inclusion, Education, Equine Facilitated Learning, Leadership, Personal Development, Working with Boards
Lisa Hancock
- Charities, Corporate Governance, Current or Former Jockey, Leadership, Racecourses, Safeguarding, Working with Boards
Louise Stewart
- Career Coaching, Corporate Governance, Leadership, Personal Development, Racecourses, Working with Boards
Lucy Attwood
- Career Coaching, Change management, Corporate Governance, Diversity and Inclusion, Emotional Resilience, Leadership, Personal Development, Working with Boards
Lucy Gurney
- Charities, Education, Equine Facilitated Learning, Leadership, Mentors for Mums, Racing Yards and Teams, Working with Boards
Lynn Tomkins
- Career Coaching, Change management, Diversity and Inclusion, Education, Leadership, Personal Development
Pip Kirkby
- Career Coaching, Charities, Equestrian Sport, Leadership, Racecourses, Working with Boards
Rachel Flynn
- Bloodstock, Current or Former Jockey, Leadership, Legal, Racehorse Trainer, Racing Yards and Teams
Richard Wayman
- Corporate Governance, Leadership, Personal Development, Politics, Working with Boards
Rishi Persad
- Diversity and Inclusion, Equestrian Sport, Global Industry, Leadership, Media
Rose Grissell
- Corporate Governance, Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Wellbeing, Maternity Support, Mentors for Mums, Safeguarding, Working with Boards
Sarah Guest
- Emotional Resilience, Leadership, Mentors for Mums, Personal Development, Racing Yards, Racing Yards and Teams, Safeguarding
Susannah Gill
- Betting Industry, Diversity and Inclusion, Emotional Resilience, Media, Mentors for Mums, Networking, Personal Development, Politics
Tallulah Wilson
- Betting Industry, Bloodstock, Corporate Governance, Diversity and Inclusion, Mentors for Mums, Personal Development, Working with Boards
Yvonne Carr
- Administration, Education, Former Amateur Rider, Former Permit Holder, Personal Development, Racing Yards, Racing Yards and Teams, Working with Boards
Zoe Elliot
- Charities, Diversity and Inclusion, Education, Leadership, Maternity Support, Menopause, Mentors for Mums, Personal Development, Safeguarding
Mentor Programme success stories
Equine Science Lecturer
I am an Equine Science Lecturer with a passion for horse racing and rider performance that has been developed through various roles within the racing industry. I...
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Academic researcher
I have been involved in the racing industry for more than 15 years in various ways, including owner, breeder, regulator and administrator. However, currently I am an...
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Mentee to Mentor
As a member of Women in Racing I have been both a mentee and a mentor and found both experiences enormously helpful as part of my ongoing...
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