EXCLUSIVE: In 2019 The Cheltenham Pageant modified the title of its second day to ‘Fashion Wednesday’, however a brand new change this 12 months as seen a surge in girls punters.
Extra girls than ever will come on Women Day Wednesday (Picture: Getty)
Historical past will probably be made on the Cheltenham Pageant on Wednesday at ‘Women Day’—with a file variety of girls racegoers flocking to the well-known observe. And the enhance in feminine followers has been attributed to renaming the day ‘Women Day’, as an alternative of ‘Fashion Wednesday’ – in addition to trailblazing jockey Rachael Blackmore turning into the occasion’s model ambassador.
Blackmore, 36 – retired from driving and anticipating her first baby – made historical past as the primary feminine jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2022, and the Grand Nationwide in 2021. She was introduced in to advertise this 12 months’s return of the second day being named ‘Women Day’ after it was modified to the genderless ‘Fashion Wednesday’ in 2019.
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Rachael made historical past as the primary girl to win the Gold Cup and the Grand Nationwide (Picture: Getty)
Now the Jockey Membership has revealed that title change and Blackmore’s involvement have collectively sparked a surge in girls because of come to the observe for the day of vogue, frocks and poo.
New figures present that 33% of ticket purchasers for Women Day at The Pageant are feminine, in contrast with 25% in 2025 – that means an increase of round a 3rd.
The Irish jockey mentioned: “It’s nice to see extra girls deciding to return alongside to Women Day this 12 months.
“To see numbers go from 25% to 33% is incredible and hopefully it’s one thing that may proceed to develop.”
Cheltenham Racecourse appointed Blackmore as Head of Women Day in November 2025, to “encourage extra girls to attend the Cheltenham Pageant and showcase every thing a day on the races has to supply.”
The Jockey Membership defined: “As a part of the marketing campaign, Rachael took Women Day past the racecourse and into native communities, assembly members of the general public at buying centres in Oxford, Birmingham and Cardiff.
“She spoke about The Pageant to common racegoers and newcomers alike, posed for pictures and inspired extra girls to expertise the magic of Cheltenham.”
At The Pageant itself, the marketing campaign has additionally introduced new experiences for racegoers attending Women Day with The Centaur bar reworked right into a devoted Women Day zone with leisure, dwell music and a particular racing panel designed to assist demystify the game.
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Rachael Blackmore gained a stack of races and made historical past (Picture: Getty)
A Q&A hosted by Rosie Tapner, with Rachael Blackmore, ITV Racing’s Alice Plunkett and Rugby World Cup-winning Purple Rose Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt, shared insights into their sporting experiences, racing and previewed the afternoon’s motion.
There may also be a showcase of vogue by Official Jockey Membership companions Holland Cooper and Debenhams, and the much-loved annual Fashion Awards, with greater than £10,000 of prizes on provide.
Man Lavender, Chief Govt of Cheltenham Racecourse, mentioned: “We wished to make Women Day an event that felt welcoming and thrilling for everybody, and the response we’ve seen has been extremely encouraging.
“To see feminine ticket purchasers enhance from 25% final 12 months to 33% this 12 months reveals that the marketing campaign is already making an actual distinction.
“Having Rachael on the coronary heart of it has been incredible. Her willingness to get out into the neighborhood, meet individuals and speak about The Pageant has helped deliver the Cheltenham expertise to new audiences.”
As a part of her position as Head of Women Day, Blackmore hung out with different feminine racegoers at Cheltenham’s November Assembly to seek out out what the expertise is like on the opposite facet of the rails.
Blackmore added: “It’s been actually gratifying assembly so many individuals and speaking about what makes the Cheltenham Pageant so particular.
“The construct as much as this 12 months’s occasion has been very completely different for me however I’ve cherished the brand new problem that this position has given me.
“Cheltenham has been an enormous a part of my life, a few of my greatest reminiscences are right here and I’m proud to have been in a position to work with the racecourse to share that magic with the general public.
“Whether or not somebody follows racing carefully or has by no means been earlier than, it’s such an excellent day trip and I consider it has a lot to supply to everybody.”
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