Magic Millions new achievement award and new hall of fame to honour women in racing

A shared passion for racing and a love of the horse will be celebrated with two new awards for women in racing to be announced at the Magic Millions.

A shared passion for racing and a love of the horse will be celebrated with two new awards for women in racing to be announced at the Magic Millions in January.

The Magic Millions Racing Women Hall of Fame award will honour a lifetime of achievement in the racing industry while the National Racing Woman of the Year will mark one individual’s outstanding contribution.

Magic Millions co-owner Katie Page said legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse was a pioneer for women in racing and the type of person she expected to enter the new hall of fame.

“I am such a great supporter of Gai’s,” she said. “When you see what she has done for our industry and for women she is an inspiration.”

But Ms Page said there were others whose names would be in the running when the awards are announced at the inaugural Magic Millions Racing Women and TAB dinner at The Star on the Gold Coast in January.

The National Racing Woman of the Year award will come with a $50,000 scholarship and is open to any woman in the industry from strappers to office staff.

Magic Millions co- owner Katie Page with racing industry participant Linda Huddy (centre) and Sky Racing analyst Ally Mosley Photo: Luke Marsden

“This is about a passion for the sport of racing and a passion for the horse,” she said, pointing to the emotional interview French strapper Emilie Seigle gave ahead of Absurde’s run in the Melbourne Cup as an example of the love women in racing had for their horses.

“Women who nominate will need to explain how they will use the $50,000 scholarship money to improve the racing industry,” Ms Page said.

“We will be reading submissions from women that could change parts of racing in the future because they are on the ground and involved every day of the year.”

Racing industry participant Linda Huddy said the award and Hall of Fame built on the original Racing Women’s Bonus that had attracted so many women into buying a share in a racehorse.

“Racing has changed so much over the years with so many more women involved in all aspects today,” she said. “It would be lovely to acknowledge some of the true pioneers like Gai who did so much in the early years.”

Sky Racing analyst Ally Mosley, who is also a keen show jumper, has taken on a role as Magic Millions ambassador for sales and off-the-track thoroughbreds and welcomed the chance to acknowledge the achievements of other women in racing.

“There are so many women in the industry now, if you go into a stables in the morning you will see more women than men. They are all there with one thing in common, the love of the horse,” she said.

“The award is a great chance to acknowledge the women who are up at 3am in the stables and working in the offices behind the scenes,” she said.