Line-up of riders announced for 2025 Markel Magnolia Cup raising money for The King’s Trust International’s Project Lehar

24th April 2025

A compelling line-up of riders has been announced for the 2025 Markel Magnolia Cup in support of The King’s Trust International’s Project Lehar, with RIXO set to design the racing silks.

  • Horse Racing

  • Markel Magnolia Cup

  • Goodwood Racecourse

Markel Magnolia Cup 2025 line-up Ph by. Kirsty Russell.jpg

On Thursday 31 July, 12 inspirational women will become jockeys for the day as they come under starters’ orders at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, presented by Visit Qatar.

The Markel Magnolia Cup has raised more than £2.7 million for charitable causes since its inception in 2011. This year, the race will support The King’s Trust International’s Project Lehar.

The initiative operates in the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with a focus on empowering adolescent girls through vocational training, skills development and promoting gender equality within their communities.

Currently, 15 riders are in the running to race down Goodwood’s home straight, with the final 12 to be finalised after the British Racing School standard riding and fitness assessments, which will take place in May.

The race was conceived to overcome the boundaries within sport and, more specifically, horse racing, creating an inclusive community in support of women, their abilities and well-being.

The majority of this year’s line-up began as novice riders, with some never having ridden a racehorse until beginning their training. To pass the British Racing School’s fitness assessments requires total commitment, in addition to sheer determination and skill to compete and hopefully win.

In the tradition of the race and its values, Goodwood selects a female-led fashion brand to create a collection of bespoke silks for the riders to wear, and in the past has worked with Lisou, Alice Temperley, and Vivienne Westwood.

This year’s vintage-inspired designs have been curated by London-based fashion house RIXO, which is also Goodwood’s 2025 Talent in Fashion Award winner.

Goodwood Racecourse Director, James Crespi, said: “For over two hundred years, Goodwood has been synonymous with horseracing, much in the same way as Wimbledon is with tennis and Lord’s with cricket. Every year the inspirational women who take part in the Markel Magnolia Cup become part of our incredible story and it’s something we’re immensely proud of. Their grit and determination are rewarded with due glory and we’re already looking forward to seeing the line-up flying down the Goodwood straight in July.”

The jockeys set to contest the five-and-a-half-furlong race down Goodwood Racecourse’s straight are:

Charlotte Emery - Chief Marketing Officer at Entain Group (Coral)

Christy Cashman - Author, writer and actor

Elizabeth Hiscox - Owner of sustainable fashion brand E.STOTT and part of Hiscox insurance company

Jaimee Broadley - Police officer in Nottingham

Jasmine Watts - Construction loss adjuster in the insurance world

Kate Hutchins - Social media and fashion influencer

Lauren Griffiths - Cool Ridings Equestrian member and nurse

Lois Logan – Up and coming Show jumper

Madeleine Bunbury - Equine artist, Bunbury Equine Art

Matilda Alexander - Graduate lawyer based in Melbourne

Nina Barbour - Managing director at Bolesworth Country Estate

Philippa Hartrick-Morris - New mother and HR business partner at Markel International

Sabaya Verger - Partner at Tedworth Property

Sienna Anderson - Riding A Dream Academy graduate

Sophie Forsyth - Underwriter at Markel International

  • Horse Racing

  • Markel Magnolia Cup

  • Goodwood Racecourse

  • magnolia-cup-2023.jpg

    Latest News

    Markel Magnolia Cup Riders Announced

  • Aamilah photo.jpg

    Latest News

    Riding A Dream Academy Student, Aamilah Aswat, riding in Markel Magnolia Cup five years after Khadijah Mellah's historic win

  • Fashion brand RIXO will design the racing silks for the 2025 Markel Magnolia Cup Ph by. Silvia Olsen

    Latest News

    Racing Design Ready: RIXO to Headline Qatar Goodwood Festival