Cheltenham Announces Shortlist For Ladies' Award

Cheltenham Racecourse today announces the seven names that form the shortlist for its inaugural award recognising Ladies in Jump Racing. The 2007 Award of 'The Outstanding Contribution made by a Lady to Jump Racing' attracted a large number of nominations from members of the public, and those shortlisted include women involved in racing in a host of different ways.

The ?magnificent seven' are: Henrietta Knight and Venetia Williams, representing the ranks of trainers; Dinah Nicholson, trainer's wife, charity supporter and staunch advocate of British Breeding; Carrie Humble, founder of the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre; Heather Atkinson, Senior Nurse in the Jockeys' Hospital at Cheltenham Racecourse for almost 30 years; Nina Carberry, arguably the best female Jump jockey of all time, and Helen Donnelly, a key member of stable staff in several yards over the past 18 years, most notably as travelling head lass for Jonjo O'Neill for eight years.

The winner is being decided by a panel made up of Zara Phillips, Clare Balding and Gee Bradburne (nee Armytage) and will be announced on 7th March. The successful Lady will then be presented with her award at The Festival, on Thursday 15th March, the date of Cheltenham's first ever Ladies Day.

Commenting on the shortlist, Edward Gillespie, Managing Director of Cheltenham, said: 'Cheltenham is proud to instigate this award, which will be the centrepiece of Ladies Day at The Festival. We were delighted to receive so many nominations covering a wide cross-section of the industry and the final seven sum up the hugely significant contribution ladies make across the whole spectrum of Jump Racing. The judges do not face an easy task!'