Goodwood Racecourse is delighted to announce that Markel will partner the Magnolia Cup at the Qatar Goodwood Festival for the next three years. The new three-year partnership sees exclusive ownership and naming rights of the prestigious horse race on Ladies Day through to 2023.
As official partner of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Markel, the global insurer, will aim to raise awareness of its commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive organisation, along with building upon its long-standing promise to support the communities it serves.
The 2021 renewal will mark the tenth running of the race which since its inception has raised over £1.6 million for multiple charities. A maximum field of twelve intrepid riders’ line-up in the contest run over five-and-a-half furlongs of Goodwood Racecourse’s home straight.
In recent years, individuals from the world of business, music, sport and media have all participated, however, it was the victory of Khadijah Mellah in 2019 that captured headlines around the world. The Magnolia Cup was created with the intention to push the boundaries of human capabilities and diversify horseracing while creating an inclusive community in support of women and their wellbeing.
Commenting on the sponsorship, William Stovin, president of Markel International, said: “Markel has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Goodwood and we have watched the Magnolia Cup go from strength to strength. The values that the Magnolia Cup is built upon mirror the values that we hold as an organisation, so this partnership seemed like a natural evolution of our relationship with Goodwood.”
He added: “We hope that across the next three years we can raise awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion across all industries and the opportunities that it presents, along with being able to support some very worthy causes.”
Jon Barnett, Racecourse Director at The Goodwood Group, commented; “To work with Markel over the next three years is something our whole team can’t wait to deliver. I believe this partnership with a brand of provenance like Markel will provide big opportunities for both parties and British horseracing.”
“Markel has done a great deal of work to address the diversity and inclusion challenges that face the organisation and the wider insurance industry as well as looking at how it can make a more positive impact on the various communities that it is a part of and so with this alliance we can look forward to driving the importance of these messages in our sport.”
The supported charity and riders for the 2021 renewal of the Magnolia Cup are due to be announced shortly alongside the designer of the jockey silks. Tickets, dining and hospitality for the Qatar Goodwood Festival are on sale, and can be purchased by visiting Goodwood.com or by calling 01243 755055.
[ENDS]
Editor’s Notes:
About Markel International:
Markel International is a division of Markel Corporation, a US-based holding company trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MKL). Markel International writes insurance and reinsurance business through six divisions and through offices across the UK, Europe, Canada and Asia Pacific. Markel International’s insuring entities include Syndicate 3000, Markel International Insurance Company Limited and Markel Insurance SE.
Its UK national markets business also provides legal and professional fees insurance cover as well as legal and tax consultancy services. For more information, please visit us at www.markelinternational.com
For more information:
Daniel Moore, Markel Content and PR Executive
+ 44 (0)7711 900 370
Daniel.moore@markel.com
About the Qatar Goodwood Festival:
The Qatar Goodwood Festival is one of the undisputed highlights of the British Flat racing season.
Synonymous with the sport: the first public race meeting took place at the racecourse in 1802, and over the decades, the meeting has attracted the very best equine athletes including Double Trigger, Ouija Board, Frankel, Midday and Stradivarius to name a few.
Affectionately known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’, the world-famous five-day festival is a sporting and social occasion like no other, unrivalled style, superb racing and hospitality to savour - it’s not to be missed.
The 2021 event takes place from Tuesday 27 July to Saturday 31 July and Qatar continues its generous support of the week.
Tickets, dining and hospitality are now on sale for the Qatar Goodwood Festival, visit Goodwood.com or call 01243 755055 to find out more.
For editorial enquiries please contact:
Lucy Snell Goodwood Press Office: 01243 755 000, lucy.snell@goodwood.com
&width=271)