The event at Kempton Park Racecourse is supported by the Racing Foundation. The organisations will come together to launch racing’s first motherhood/parenthood portal as part of their ongoing project to educate and empower all stakeholders within the horseracing industry.
Taking place on 6 July 2022, the free event will comprise an introduction to the ‘Racing Home’ program in conjunction with the Women in Racing AGM. This will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Racing Home contributors, including TV presenter and journalist Aly Vance, and Unibet/Kindred Head of Racing Ed Nicholson. It will then conclude with an evening of racing.
“Working parents, in particular women and those thinking about starting a family, can face significant challenges within horseracing,” a statement read. “Employers, employees and those who are self-employed now have easy access to information about rights and entitlements regarding pregnancy, maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental leave, flexible working, self-employment and statutory pay.”
Founded in 2009, Women in Racing is a network that aims to develop the profile of women within horseracing and provide support to women aiming to secure appointments through to senior and board level in the sport. Since launching, it has achieved various milestones, including a successful mentoring scheme and a bursary fund alongside a busy calendar of educational and social events.
Other objectives of the network include “attracting more women into horseracing, strengthening connections, collaborating on approaches to help promote the health of the sport, and to enhance its reputation as an attractive sector in which to build a career.”