- Markel Magnolia Cup racing silks unveiled at RIXO’s flagship London store.
- Each jockey presented with colourful, bespoke silk for charity race on Thursday 31 July at Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar.
- Tickets available for Qatar Goodwood Festival at Goodwood.com.
Goodwood’s Markel Magnolia Cup racing silks were unveiled at RIXO’s Flagship store in London on the evening of Tuesday 8 July.
This year’s colourful, vintage-inspired designs have been curated by the London-based fashion house, RIXO, which is also Goodwood’s 2025 Talent in Fashion Award winner. RIXO drew inspiration from some of their favourite hand painted prints and patterns, delving into their archive, to create 12 unique silks for the charity race, putting fashion on the racecourse.
The Markel Magnolia Cup takes place on Thursday 31 July at Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar, when 12 inspirational women will race down the home straight standing out in front of the crowd at Goodwood Racecourse.
The Markel Magnolia Cup was first run in 2011 to raise money for women-focused charities. Each year it brings together women, with varying degrees of riding experience, who set aside their day jobs to commit to an intense training regime, transforming into jockeys for the occasion. This year the race will raise money for the King’s Trust International’s Project Lehar.
In the tradition of the race and its values, Goodwood selects a female-led fashion brand to create a collection of bespoke racing silks, and in the past has worked with Lisou, Alice Temperley, and Vivienne Westwood.
Co-founders Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey created RIXO in 2015 and now have stores in the UK, USA and Ireland.
RIXO Print Designer, Linda Moloney, said: “It’s been really exciting and such a privilege to get to see everything from start to finish, we worked really hard with Orlagh to make sure that we put our best signature RIXO prints on these jockey silks. We wanted every jockey to feel special and empowered, which is the ethos of RIXO and it’s just so exciting to see everyone happy with them as well. They’re bright beautiful patterns and I’m sure Orlagh and Henrietta would be so proud. We can’t wait to see them in action.”
Colleen Bowman, Senior Director of Global Brand at Markel International, said: "We're delighted to have the 2025 Markel Magnolia Cup silks designed by RIXO, and to see the final designs that this year's riders will be wearing down Goodwood's iconic racecourse. At Markel, we believe that everyone has the power to make a difference, and yet another cohort of inspirational riders are putting that into practice as we count down to race day, in support of the King's Trust International's Project Lehar."
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Notes to Editors:
The Markel Magnolia Cup takes place during Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar, Thursday 31 July.
The Silks are designed by RIXO and made by Allertons.
Tickets
Tickets, dining, and hospitality are now on sale for Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar. Visit Goodwood.com or call 01243 755055 to find out more.
Contact
For more information about Goodwood Racecourse events, please contact Louise Gould, Press Officer: Louise.Gould@Goodwood.com
For all other press enquiries please contact: Media@goodwood.com
Imagery and news from Goodwood are available from our Press and Media site
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About the Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar
The Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar 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 2025 event takes place from Tuesday 29 July to Saturday 2 August. The week is headed by three Group 1 races, including the £500,000 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, the £1 million Qatar Sussex Stakes, and the £600,000 Qatar Nassau Stakes.
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About the Markel Magnolia Cup
On Thursday 31 July, 12 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 was 18 years old when she won in spectacular style just months after sitting on a horse for the first time. Previous jockeys have included doctors, Olympians, CEOs, journalists, students, models, and presenters, among them Edie Campbell, Sara Cox, Rosie Tapner, and Vogue Williams. Last year’s winner was Australian-based TV presenter, Lizzie Jelfs.
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.
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About Markel
We are Markel, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we operate the Markel Specialty, Markel International, and Markel Global Reinsurance divisions, as well as State National, our portfolio protection and program services operations, and Nephila, our insurance-linked securities operations. Our broad array of capabilities and expertise allow us to create intelligent solutions for the most complex risk management needs. However, it is our people—and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients—that differentiates us worldwide.
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About RIXO
Founded in London in 2015, RIXO began in the living room of best friends Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey while they were studying at university. Born from their shared passion for vintage, they wanted to capture the thrill of discovery. Crafting heirlooms-in-the-making and timeless designs made for all seasons, pieces to be cherished and passed down through generations.
RIXO is more than a fashion brand, it’s a movement that invites its inspiring #HumansofRixo community to embrace the art of self-expression and elevate every moment. They fill a unique space in the contemporary market, with limited-edition, one-of-a-kind designs featuring boldly hand-painted prints and elegantly draped silhouettes that move effortlessly with modern life. With inclusive sizing from UK 6-26, vintage-inspired dresses remain at the core of collections, which also includes outerwear, shoes, bags, jewellery, bridal, bridesmaid, and homeware.
The award-winning brand currently has three standalone retail stores in London, including its 5,000 square feet flagship store on the King’s Road, alongside a recently opened store in New York City on Prince Street, Nolita. As the brand continues to grow its international footprint, their unique designs can be found through curated boutiques, global online retailers and iconic department stores — connecting more women to the world of RIXO than ever before.
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About Project Lehar
Project Lehar is a King’s Trust International initiative focused on empowering adolescent girls through vocational training, skills development, and promoting gender equality within their communities. The project takes a holistic approach, offering a series of complementary learning modules that help girls enhance their earning potential, build self-confidence, and plan for a brighter future.
