Southwell to Stage All-Female Card

Southwell will host an all-female card on International Women's Day, Mar. 8. The eight races, held in conjunction with the sport's Diversity in Racing Steering Group, the British Horseracing Authority, Women in Racing and Great British Racing, will be split evenly between Flat and National Hunt racing.

“It's great that Southwell are celebrating International Women's Day with an all-female racecard,” said Southwell native and jockey Hayley Turner, who became the second female jockey to ride a Royal Ascot winner last year. We ride against and at the same level as men, so don't think of ourselves as female jockeys, but this is a great way to celebrate the talented women in our sport.”

Tallulah Lewis, chair of Women in Racing, said: “Women in Racing was founded to support women across the sport, including female jockeys.”

Added Tallulah Lewis, Women in Racing Chair, “Southwell's all-women racecard, with the majority of raceday officials female also, provides a great opportunity to showcase female jockey talent and we're delighted to work with all parties to help make this happen. We will continue our work to showcase the incredible female talent we have across the sport and help ensure that racing can benefit from this in the years ahead.”

Rose Grissell, BHA Head of Diversity and Inclusion, said, “International Women's Day is a day to celebrate the achievements and talents of women across the world, as well as to raise awareness of some of the unique challenges and inequalities they face. There is no better way to celebrate the day than by providing further opportunities for female jockeys and showcasing their abilities through this fixture. Racing should be proud of the progress it has made. However, there is more to be done to ensure that they get the same opportunities as their male counterparts.”