Grand Women’s Summit 2016

The Grand Women’s Summit at the 2016 Crabbie’s Grand National Festival returns for a second year

Jockey Club Racecourses North West and Women in Racing announce partnership

 Aintree Racecourse and Women in Racing, supported by Women in Sport, are delighted to announce that The Grand Women’s Summit will return in 2016 on Ladies Day of the Crabbie’s Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, Friday 8th April 2016.

Hailed a huge success by over 115 delegates who attended the first event of its kind in 2015, the Grand Women’s Summit will celebrate women in horseracing, sport and business and provide guests with an informative educational, career and networking opportunity, whilst experiencing one of the largest horseracing festivals in the world.

Channel 4 Racing presenters Gina Harding and Tanya Stevenson will co-host a panel of leading figures from horseracing, sport and business, focussing on gender balance and diversity in sport from participation to corporate and board level. Panellists will be announced in the coming months.

A champagne breakfast, sponsored by Moët & Chandon will also be included as well as delegates being able to enjoy an exclusive private facility located in the Red Rum Lawn for the whole day.

Delegates will also be treated to an exclusive course walk around the iconic Grand National course with Irish Grand National winning jockey Katie Walsh and further figures renowned for their success in the world’s most famous steeplechase – the Crabbie’s Grand National.

Additionally, the North West region of Jockey Club Racecourses and Women in Racing have agreed an exciting new partnership from 2016-2017 inclusively. The partnership will involve events across the regions three racecourses, including the Grand Women’s Summit in April at Aintree, Haydock Park and Carlisle’s Ladies only jockey fixture in August.

Jockey Club Racecourses North West join Nolan Partner’s, Women in Racing founding partner, who have generously supported the organisation for three years.

John Baker, Regional Director for Aintree Racecourse, said:

“This partnership underlines the Jockey Club Northwest’s commitment to supporting women working within horseracing. We are looking forward to working with Women in Racing over the next two years.

“Furthermore we are delighted to be hosting the second Grand Women’s Summit at Aintree Racecourse on Ladies Day 2016, in partnership with Women in Racing, and I’m very pleased that Women in Sport has also come on board to support the event.

“Last year was a huge success with over 115 delegates enjoying a great debate on an important topic followed by a unique course walk around the Grand National fences with jockey’s synonymous with the race.

“We’re looking forward to making it even better this year with high profile and exciting panellists from the world of sport and business, who will be announced in due course. We’ve also pushed it back an hour to give more time to get to Aintree and are pleased to be able to provide a private facility all day for delegates to enjoy and network.”

Women in Racing is a network supporting the careers of women within horseracing in the UK from participation to executive and board level and co-hosted with Aintree Racecourse the first Grand Women’s Summit held last April. Since is it was founded in 2009, WiR has achieved significant milestones including a successful mentoring scheme and a bursary fund alongside a busy calendar of educational and social events.

Sally Rowley-Williams, Chair of Women in Racing, said:

“On behalf of Women in Racing, I am thrilled with the new two year partnership agreement we have reached with Jockey Club Racecourses Northwest. This group has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to supporting the achievement of women in our sport at all levels and I believe we will see new initiatives, which underline this dedication.  This agreement very much complements our successful partnership with Nolan Partners, our founding sponsor.  I am also delighted to have the support of Women in Sport at this year’s Grand Women’s Summit and welcome their inclusion of and interest in British horseracing.”

Aintree is also delighted that Women in Sport will also be supporting the 2016 Grand Women’s Summit.  The charity champions the right of every woman and girl in the UK to take part in, and benefit from, sport: from the field of play to the boardroom.

Tickets for the 2016 Grand Women Summit on Friday 8th April will be priced at £89. There is a reduced price of £75 for Women in Racing members and an early bird discount for Women in Racing members of £70 which is available until 12th February 2016.  A ticket includes an entrance ticket for Ladies Day, a private facility in the Red Rum Lawn all day, a Grand National course walk by Katie Walsh, a champagne breakfast and the Grand Women Summit.

For more information on The Grand Women’s Summit and to buy tickets for the event, please visit www.thecrabbiesgrandnational.co.uk or www.womeninracing.co.uk/Events or call 0344 579 3001.