Goodwood Racecourse has today announced that Hayley Turner, the most successful female jockey in British racing history, will take up the role as ambassador for the 6^th Magnolia Cup Ladies charity race. Turner, who retired at the end of the 2015 season, will be providing the riders with guidance and support along their journey to ride in the charity race, which opens Qatar Goodwood Festival’s Ladies’ Day on Thursday 28 July 2016.

Turner, 33, who excelled around Goodwood and won one of Britain’s most valuable mile handicaps, formerly The Golden Mile on Boom and Bust in 2011, hopes to give the jockeys confidence ahead of the race. She said; “There can be no greater thrill than riding at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, it is one of the most unique and beautiful racecourses in the world. The girls have been training hard already and I’m looking forward to helping them in any way I can.”

Amongst the 12 riders currently in training for the race are TalkTalk’s CEO Dido Harding, World Vision Ambassador and sister of Lord March Lady Louisa Gordon-Lennox, Bank of England COO Charlotte Hogg and BBC South presenter Alexis Green. The ladies will wear bespoke silks created by high-profile fashion designers and will race in aid of two wonderful charities, Best Beginnings and World Vision.

Best Beginnings is working to give every child in the UK the best start in life, while World Vision is the world’s largest international children’s charity, bringing real hope to millions of children in the world’s hardest places.

The 2015 Magnolia Cup raised £153,000 for Amref Health Africa, a charity that seeks to improve health by partnering with and empowering communities and strengthening health systems. The Magnolia Cup has raised more than £1 million in 5 years.

Notes to Editors

Full list of Magnolia Cup riders in training for the race:

• Alexis Green
• Dido Harding
• Charlotte Hogg
• Alby Bailey
• Camilla Swift
• Emily Baxendale
• Georgie Lane-Godfrey
• Lady Louisa Gordon Lennox
• Molly Murphy
• Shadi Halliwell
• Tamara Warhurst
• Victoria Gray

For further information on this year’s Magnolia Cup charities, please visit;

Best Beginnings - http://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/

World Vision - http://www.worldvision.org.uk

ENDS