A student from the Riding A Dream Academy will line up in this year’s Markel Magnolia Cup at Goodwood Racecourse on Thursday 1 August, five years after Khadijah Mellah made history in 2019 by winning the same race. Aamilah Aswat, 18, from Gloucester was one of the first students to join the Riding A Dream Academy which was set up after Khadijah’s victory to support other young people from diverse ethnic backgrounds into British horse racing.
Aamilah first learned to ride at St James’s City Farm in Gloucester at age six and participated in pony races with the Pony Racing Authority from age 11. At 16 she won a place on the Khadijah Mellah Scholarship, the Riding A Dream Academy’s flagship programme where, over the course of a year, young people learn to ride and look after racehorses and develop their knowledge of British racing. She has since graduated from the Foundation Course at the British Racing School and now works for Grand National winning trainer, Kim Bailey.
Aamilah said, “Ever since I was a little girl I have dreamt of being a jockey so to be taking part in this year’s Magnolia Cup is a dream come true and very surreal. I have ridden in pony races before, but to have the opportunity to ride at Goodwood and in such an amazing race, is such a privilege. I’m going in with no expectations and no pressure – I just want to enjoy the whole experience.”
Khadijah Mellah, one of the co-founders of the Riding A Dream Academy who became the first British Muslim woman to win a UK horse race when landing the Magnolia Cup in 2019 said, “We are so excited that Aamilah is taking part in this year’s Magnolia Cup. Our ambitions when we set up the Riding A Dream Academy was to support other young people from diverse ethnic communities and urban equestrian centres into racing and so to see one of our students riding in the same race which changed my life and kickstarted this whole incredible journey is very emotional. I am looking forward to supporting Aamilah on her journey, letting her know what to expect and making sure she enjoys every minute of the experience.”
Naomi Lawson, co-founder of the Academy said, “It was such a joy to have Aamilah on our first ever Scholarship course at the Academy and she was one of our stand-out talents. We are very proud of the fact that to date, 75% of our Scholarship students have, like Aamilah, gone onto full-time work in a racing yard or work experience in the industry and for us to have our first ever race-rider is another massive landmark in the Academy’s history.”
Goodwood racecourse moving forwards will offer a place in the Markel Magnolia Cup every year to a student of the Riding A Dream Academy.
The Markel Magnolia Cup has raised a phenomenal £2.4 million for charitable causes since its inception. Fundraising has now begun for the 2024 Markel Magnolia Cup via Just Giving here.
Tickets, dining and hospitality are on sale for the Qatar Goodwood Festival, which takes place from 30 July to 3 August. Visit Goodwood.com or call 01243 755055 to find out more.
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Editor’s Notes:
Social Media:
Official hashtags: #MarkelMagnoliaCup #QGF #GoodwoodRaces
To follow the riders as they train for the Markel Magnolia Cup, please visit Goodwood Racecourse’s social media channels.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/goodwoodracecourse
Twitter: www.twitter.com/goodwood_races
Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodwood_races
About the Markel Magnolia Cup
On Thursday, 1 August, twelve dedicated amateur jockeys will ride in the Markel Magnolia Cup following months of intensive training.
In 2019, the race captured the eyes of the world when Khadijah Mellah galloped to glory up Goodwood’s home straight. Mellah won in spectacular style just months after sitting on a horse for the first time at the Ebony Horse Club, a club that aims to transform young lives through horses in south London’s most disadvantaged communities.
Previous jockeys have included doctors, Olympians, CEOs, journalists, students, models, and presenters, among them Edie Campbell, Sara Cox and Vogue Williams.
Fundraising takes place through race and horse sponsorship, as well as at the Regency Ball, a stunning themed evening held at Goodwood House after the Markel Magnolia Cup.
About the Riding A Dream Academy
At the Riding A Dream Academy we’re passionate about supporting young people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, disadvantaged communities and urban equestrian centres get involved in British horseracing. Inspired by the achievements of Khadijah Mellah, who became the first British Muslim woman to ride in and win a British horse race, we want to help other young riders aged 13-16 achieve their dreams. Funded by the Racing Foundation, the Academy runs four programmes:
The Khadijah Mellah Scholarship which is a year-long programme for talented riders.
Riding A Dream Residential Weeks which are a fun riding-based introduction to the sport.
Taster Days at the British Racing School for school children with no experience of riding or horse racing.
More information can be found on Instagram: @ridingadreamacademy or via the website www.ridingadreamacademy.com
About Markel International
Markel International is a division of Markel Corporation, a US-based holding company trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MKL). Markel International writes insurance and reinsurance business through six divisions and offices across the UK, Europe, Canada, and Asia Pacific. Markel International’s insuring entities include Syndicate 3000, Markel International Insurance Company Limited, and Markel Insurance SE.
Its UK national markets business also provides legal and professional fees insurance cover as well as legal and tax consultancy services. For more information, please visit: www.markelinternational.com
About My Sisters’ House
Helping women thrive, not just survive
My Sisters’ House is a women’s centre operating across the Arun and Chichester Districts working with women to improve their welfare and wellbeing, reduce their risk of domestic abuse and support recovery, and help them reach their goals for employment, education or training.
Founded in 2014, the charity supports any self-identifying women with multiple disadvantages, offering wrap-around support, specialising in domestic abuse, wellbeing and welfare. In 2015 My Sisters’ House supported 28 clients, but by 2023 this increased dramatically to 1756 new clients (on top of existing ones), showing the escalation of need within the West Sussex community.
With a mission to help women “thrive, not just survive”, My Sisters’ House provides trauma-informed, holistic support in responsive, women’s-only spaces. With 2 hubs in the heart of the local communities of Chichester and Bognor Regis, the highly-trained team acts as ‘the net-beneath-the-net’, being the consistent, non-judgemental advocate for women with multiple and complex needs. For more information, please visit: www.mysistershouse.info
About the Qatar Goodwood Festival:
The Qatar Goodwood Festival is one of the undisputed highlights of the British flat racing season.
Affectionately known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’, the world-famous five-day festival is a sporting and social occasion like no other, unrivalled style, superb racing, and hospitality experiences to savour mean it’s not to be missed.
The 2024 event takes place from Tuesday 30 July to Saturday 3 August. The week is headed by three Group 1 races, including the £500,000 Qatar Goodwood Cup, the £1 million Qatar Sussex Stakes, and the £600,000 Qatar Nassau Stakes.
Tickets, dining, and hospitality are now on sale for the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Visit Goodwood.com or call 01243 755055 to find out more.
For editorial enquiries please contact:
Emma Chamings, emma@jsccomms.co.uk, 07887792980
