Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Rachael Blackmore Named Head of Ladies Day at Cheltenham Festival

The retired Grand National winner will lead a data-led drive to raise the share of women attending, addressing barriers flagged in Jockey Club research.

Overview

  • Cheltenham has appointed Blackmore to an ambassadorial role to shape the relaunch of Ladies Day at next March’s Festival, the first since 2019.
  • The initiative targets growth in female attendance after Jockey Club figures showed women make up about a quarter of visitors at the course versus a 39% industry average for jump racing.
  • Blackmore says she will meet racegoers to understand motivations and identify blockers and barriers that deter women from coming to the races.
  • As part of the campaign, she will front outreach events in Birmingham, Oxford and Cambridge ahead of the Festival.
  • She is set to experience Cheltenham as a spectator at The November Meeting on Friday, November 14 following her May 2025 retirement.