- Australian racehorse trainer Charlotte Littlefield to take part in 2026 Markel Magnolia Cup.
- The Markel Magnolia Cup will take place on Thursday 30 July during Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar.
- Tickets and hospitality for Goodwood’s headline racing festival can be purchased at Goodwood.com.
Trailblazing Australian racehorse trainer and horseracing presenter Charlotte Littlefield is the first rider announced for the 2026 Markel Magnolia Cup. Charlotte is already underway with her training for the challenge, that will take place on Thursday 30 July during Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar.
Charlotte’s perseverance and achievements in the horseracing industry highlights the boundaries she has broken as a woman in professional sport.
Growing up close to Goodwood Racecourse, in Midhurst, Charlotte started her equestrian career in eventing, representing the British Eventing Team at the European Championships on her home-produced Irish Thoroughbred.
After moving Down Under in 2005, Charlotte began pre‑training racehorses during her university years to earn some extra income. Her growing passion for racing eventually took her to Cranbourne, where she rode trackwork for Pat Trotter and Ken Keys and went on to obtain her own trainer’s licence.
Establishing Hayfields Racing in 2015 with Julian Hay, she trained her first winner, Bergerac Rose, from only her second start.
Since then, Hayfields has grown significantly in size and reputation, with the Australian racing stable achieving two Group 3 wins, a second-place finish in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, a Country Cup and a record number of winners in 2025.
Alongside her training career, Charlotte is a familiar face on‑course, interviewing winning jockeys and connections on horses for Channel 7 and Racing.com - often crossing paths with 2024 Markel Magnolia Cup winner and racing broadcaster Lizzie Jelfs.
On returning home to compete in the all-female charity race, Charlotte, said: “I grew up just down the road, so Goodwood was my local racecourse. As a young girl I loved the twilight meetings, standing by the rail and putting my £1 on each race. To now return here and compete at such a prestigious event is truly a pinch-me moment.”
“It feels incredibly special to come home not just as a Markel Magnolia Cup contender, but as someone deeply involved in the industry I love and am extremely passionate about supporting female participation in racing.”
On Ladies Day, during Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar, 12 inspirational female riders will race down Goodwood’s home straight in the Markel Magnolia Cup. Since its inception in 2011, the race has raised an incredible £3.5 million for female and children-led charities.
The race sees leading women from across the worlds of business, sport, fashion and media undergo months of intensive training, before competing at Goodwood Racecourse. All the riders have varying amounts of experience, but their resilience and determination has helped change the perceptions of women in sport.
This year, the Markel Magnolia Cup will be raising funds of global foundation Education Above All.
Tickets and hospitality for Ladies Day and the Markel Magnolia Cup, during Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar are on sale now at goodwood.com.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
The full line-up for the 2026 Markel Magnolia Cup will be announced at the official launch on Thursday 23 April.
A total of 12 riders will take part in the race on Thursday 30 July. Additional riders will act as reserves for 2026 and will be rolled over to the next year’s Markel Magnolia Cup.
Tickets
Tickets, dining, and hospitality for the 2026 Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar are now available to purchase. Visit Goodwood.com to find out more.
Hospitality
In addition to tickets, Goodwood’s unrivalled hospitality packages are available to book for all 19 fixtures. Whether customers are looking for a great day out with friends, entertaining clients or celebrating something special, Goodwood’s hospitality provides the ultimate setting.
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
Stay up to date with all future announcements and on-event action across our social channels:
X (Formerly Twitter) | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
***
About Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar
Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar is one of the undisputed highlights of the British flat racing season. 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 2026 Qatar Goodwood Festival takes place from Tuesday 28 July to Saturday 1 August. The week is headed by three Group 1 races, including the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (2m), the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (1m), and the Qatar Nassau Stakes (1m2f).
***
About the Markel Magnolia Cup
On Thursday 30 July at the Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar, 12 amateur jockeys will compete in the Markel Magnolia Cup after months of intensive training. The charity race brings together women from business, sport, fashion and media, all taking on the challenge to highlight resilience and redefine perceptions of women in sport. Previous riders include Olympians, CEOs, journalists and presenters such as Edie Campbell, Sara Cox, Rosie Tapner and Vogue Williams. Markel International underwriter Sophie Forsyth was crowned the winner in 2025.
The event has been a force for change in racing, most notably through Khadijah Mellah’s groundbreaking victory in 2019, becoming the first female Muslim in the UK to win a competitive horserace. Her success inspired the Riding A Dream Academy, supporting young people from diverse backgrounds, including jump jockey Aamilah Aswat.
This year’s race will support the Education Above All Foundation, with fundraising through race and horse sponsorship and the Regency Ball at Goodwood House.
***
About Education Above All
Education Above All (EAA) Foundation is a global foundation established in 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. EAA Foundation aims to transform lives through education and employment opportunities. EAA believes that education is the single most effective means of reducing poverty, creating peaceful and just societies, unlocking the full potential of every child and youth, and creating the right conditions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
To date, Education Above All has supported over 18.5 million children and youth in more than 75 countries, providing access to quality education and employment opportunities.
