A TV star and a breast cancer survivor are among 12 women who will compete in a charity horse racing event later this year.
Goodwood Festival has announced the line-up for the 2026 Markel Magnolia Cup which will take place on July 30 as part of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
The charity race will raise funds for the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, a global education non-profit organisation.
Among the amateur jockeys taking on the Goodwood home straight are Gemma Owen, a dressage rider and star of ITV2’s Love Island, and Nermina Pieters-Mekic, Real Housewives of Cheshire star and breast cancer survivor.
The Duke of Richmond, who owns the Goodwood Estate, said: “We are very much looking forward to supporting Education Above All Foundation as the charity partner of this year’s Markel Magnolia Cup.
“Over the past 15 years, the cup has become a powerful force for real and lasting change, championing women and raising more than £3.5 million for vital causes.
“I am confident that the generosity of our partners, sponsors and racegoers, as well as the dedication and commitment of our riders, will allow us to deliver meaningful support to Education Above All Foundation.”
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Since its launch in 2011, the Markel Magnolia Cup has raised more than £3.5 million for children and female-focused charities.
The EAA Foundation, established in 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, has supported more than 18 million children and young people across 77 countries.
Among the other competitors are motorsport content creator Araminta Reed and Joanna Bovis, a reconstructive microsurgeon at The Royal Marsden Hospital.
