Arc Launches Female Jockey Race Series
During Women’s Sport Week, Arena Racing Company (ARC) has announced the launch of a new race series for female jockeys, The Silk Series.
This Silk Series is a new initiative designed to provide female jockeys, both professional and amateur, with the opportunity to participate in races hosted at nine Ladies’ Days at ARC racecourses in 2017.
The prize fund for nine races making up The Silk Series will be a minimum of £100,000. The leading female jockey at the end of The Silk Series will be awarded ‘The Tufnell Trophy’ in memory of Meriel Tufnell MBE who was Great Britain’s first Female Champion Jockey in 1972, a feat she matched in 1973 along with also becoming European Female Champion Jockey. In addition to her success on the racecourse she also founded the Lady Jockeys’ Association – the first such body in the world.
The first race will be hosted at Lingfield Park on Friday 12th May 2017 with the final race held on Ladies Day of the St Leger meeting on Thursday 14th September 2017.
As part of hosting The Silk Series ARC has partnered with Cancer Research UK and from the sale of each ticket sold for ARC’s 2017 Ladies Day series, 75 pence will be donated to the charity.
Cancer Research UK will have a presence at all nine Ladies’ Days fixtures with racegoers having the opportunity to engage with and support the charity.
Races will be run over a variety of distances with horses aged three years and over eligible to take part. The exact race conditions are still to be agreed with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) as part of the 2017 race programme.
The Tufnell Trophy will be awarded to the jockey who wins the most points across the nine races. The presentation will take place on the afternoon of 14th September at Doncaster Racecourse.
ARC Group director of partnerships, David Leyden Dunbar said: “At ARC we pride ourselves on being creative and we are always seeking new ways to innovate and promote our sport. We believe the creation of The Silk Series will provide an excellent platform for the UK’s very best female jockeys to showcase their talents, while raising funds and awareness for Cancer Research UK. I’m delighted that our partnership is beginning with a commitment to ensure a donation from every ticket sold to our Ladies Days goes directly to the charity.”
Executive director of philanthropy and partnerships, Cancer Research UK, Frances Milner said: “We are delighted that ARC has chosen to support Cancer Research UK through The Silk Series. It is a brilliant opportunity to raise awareness of our work and the money raised will help fund vital research into beating cancer.”
Image: ©Getty Images
