VRC Ambassador Rides In Goodwood Charity Race

Friday, 19 April 2019: Victoria Racing Club Ambassador Georgia Connolly will saddle up in the annual women-only Magnolia Cup at Goodwood, becoming the first Australian to take up the reins in the charity race at the famous British racecourse.

Georgia Connolly (second from left) with VRC Ambassadors
Georgia Connolly (second from left) with VRC Ambassadors


This year the Magnolia Cup will benefit Wellbeing of Women, Britain’s leading women’s reproductive and gynaecological health charity dedicated to saving the lives of women and children across the United Kingdom.
Georgia will turn amateur jockey for the race, held on Ladies' Day during the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
She will compete against high-profile women from the worlds of business, sport, fashion and the media including Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton, British model Rosie Tapner and Irish television personality Vogue Williams.
Each amateur has been issued with a tough training program and must pass a rigorous fitness test before competing.
Most have ridden as a hobby but will face an entirely new challenge competing as a jockey under race conditions.
An experienced eventer, Georgia Connolly has two horses in work at her property on the Mornington Peninsula and said she was thrilled to be the first Australian selected to ride in the race.
“I am absolutely delighted to have been selected to ride in the Magnolia Cup, especially when it benefits such a worthwhile charity in Wellbeing of Women,” she said.
“I can’t wait to start training and riding trackwork. It’s going to be a steep learning curve but I’m very competitive, so fingers crossed if I put in the hard work I can place, if not win.”
Now in its ninth year, the Magnolia Cup has raised more than $2.5 million for charities since its inception.
VRC Executive General Manager Customer Engagement Caroline Ralphsmith said the Club was looking forward to supporting Georgia’s journey to the Magnolia Cup.
“Georgia is a fantastic ambassador for the VRC and her love of horses combined with her competitive nature will stand her in good stead for the Magnolia Cup,” Ralphsmith said
“Our digital media company World Horse Racing will follow Georgia’s journey, meaning we can all keep track of her progress and her raceday at Glorious Goodwood.”