girls on top

edie campbell-from clothes horse to

celebrity jockey

Forget the red carpet, for female celebs the place to be seen is gliding along a swathe of green turf.  It seems there's a new trend in the air which involves dressing in silks and having a fit, well bred partner with a winning gleam in his eye.

The 'in crowd'  no longer want to be seen as frilly fillies whose only challenge at the races is looking good and managing to stay upright on skyscraper heels all day. Instead they want to test their nerve, and experience the thrill and glamour of riding high, as a female jockey.

This Friday, July 28th Glorious Goodwood on the Sussex Downs will be featuring its first Celebrity Ladies Race.  Lining up against full time equestriennes Laura Bechtolsheimer(dressage), Francesca Cumani( racing)  and Clare Milford Haven (polo) will be part time riders Radio 1 DJ Sarah Cox, Burberry model Edie Campbell (pictured above), actress and wife of Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, Nettie Lynton, Tatler Editor Kate Reardon, businesswoman Dido Harding and racing commentator Emma Spencer.

They will be dressed in silks designed by Hermes, Amanda Wakeley, Jasmine Guinness, Issa (The Duchess of Cambridge's favourite) and Pearl Lowe and will be attended by celebrity grooms: Elizabeth Hurley, BBC presenter Kate Silverton,  Madeleine Lloyd Webber, skier Chemmy Alcott and TV and radio presenter Natalie Pinkham.

Don't think the celebs who are mounting up won't be going all out to sashay back into the winners enclosure. They've been training hard in the gym and on the gallops.



The 'it' girl of racing at the moment has to be Hayley Turner.  Not only does she look good but she rides a mean flat race and has a winning personality too.  Despite the fact that many girls ride out at race yards, female jockeys still have a hard fight to be taken seriously and given good rides.

carlisle's angels-laura pike, hayley turner, sophie doyle

However, Carlisle racecourse has definitely decided that female jocks are the way forward and on Aug 1st will hold the world's first ever all-female race evening. Amateur and professional riders will compete in six races (including a charity race for Breast Cancer Care and the Breast Cancer Campaign), and punters will also be entertained with a fashion celebration, and a concert by X Factor winner Alexandra Burke. Let's hope that amidst all the fun, this 'ultimate ladies night' showcases the talents of female riders, and owners and trainers start to see that girls on top can be winners!