Women in racing to be celebrated at Grand National

The challenges facing women in racing is one topic on the agenda at the first grand women’s summit held on the ladies day of the Crabbie’s Grand National on 10 April 2015.

Organised by Aintree Racecourse and Women in Racing (WiR), the summit will celebrate women in horseracing, sport and business.

The panel of speakers includes Rose Paterson, chairman of Aintree Racecourse and the first women chair of a UK racecourse and Dr Denise Barrett-Baxendale, deputy CEO of Everton Football Club.

The other speaker is Steve Harman, chairman of the British Horseracing Authority, which has just appointed three women (Julie Harrington, Noel Harweth and Laura Whyte) as non-executive directors.

Each panellist will provide an overview of their career followed by a Q&A.

Channel 4 racing presenter Gina Harding is chairing the panel and her fellow presenter Emma Spencer, who is also ladies day ambassador for Aintree Racecourse is co-hosting the event.

Following the panel discussion, Katie Walsh, who came third in the 2012 Grand National, will host a course walk around the Aintree fences.

Tickets for the summit cost £70 for WiR members and £99 for guests, if bought before 30 January 2015 they are discounted to £65 and £95 respectively.

The tickets include a champagne reception and breakfast, the Grand Women’s Summit, race day admission to Ladies Day in the Earl of Derby and Lord Sefton enclosures.

“I am delighted that Women in Racing has partnered with Aintree racecourse to provide a different perspective on Ladies Day. We believe the Grand Women’s Summit will attract many new racegoers and hope this will be the first of many such events,” said Women in Racing chair, Sally Rowley-Williams.

Women in Racing is offering members a special bursary award of up to £2,000 to help support their career development within horseracing.

Applications must be in by 1 February 2015, for more details visit www.womeninracing.co.uk/bursary