“Don’t let being female hold you back” - Reflections on Virgin Bet’s Women’s Day Panel

Last week, the third Women’s Day Panel was held at the Virgin Bet Easter Bank Holiday Raceday at Kempton Park. 

The conversation was hosted by sports presenter Natalie Pike, with contributions from the following panelists: Gemma Waterhouse, COO of Racing Welfare, Laura Perkins, veterinary nurse at Kingsclere Veterinary Surgery, Hayley Moore, racing presenter and former amateur jockey, and Emma Kaye, the Founder and CEO of WalkSafe.

Want to play casino games or bet on sports? Check out the best UK online casinos and best UK bookmakers today!

Various themes and issues were covered, relating to females in horse racing, the wider business environment, and the importance of visibility. 

One of the key takeaways was a response from Hayley Moore, who was asked what her advice would be for other females who are seeking to establish a career in horse racing, or another passionate pursuit. 

The presenter stated: “Don't ever feel like you're held back for being a female.”

“Things are changing a lot for the better now, and we're seeing all sorts of improvements, even in the wider world, away from horse racing. But, don't feel like you're going to be held back because you're female.” 

She continued, “If it's something you want to do, go and do it. There are so many different aspects of horse racing that you can find a role in. You don't need to be a jockey, you don't need to be a presenter, you don't need to be a vet. There's loads of different things you can do.”

The representatives also discussed overcoming challenges from a woman’s perspective. 

Read: How to bet on horse racing online

Waterhouse explained that she faced more challenges in a previous role, as an accountant, compared to her current work in horse racing. 

“I had one scenario in a boardroom where a male colleague had not managed to deliver on a deal,” she explained. “I asked if I could try, subsequently went and delivered the deal, and around the boardroom was told, again, by a very male-dominated boardroom, that maybe if he'd looked like me, he may have been able to seal the deal. I'm not going to tell you what I said.”

The Chief Operating Officer at Racing Welfare went on to comment that: “There are a lot of women in racing. At the British Racing School, where I worked, 70% of our students were women. Where I work now, there are 55 members of staff, only four are men.”

The experiences shared were those of females, speaking to other females, while sending a call to action for men in the room. 

Kaye detailed how she feels: “passionately about ending violence against women and girls, full stop. It's something that when I got into my career, talking about being thrust into opportunities, it was a bit of a sink-or-swim moment. I had an opportunity with Sky and I took it, even though I was petrified, and it's really pushed me into the sort of PR role that I'm in where I hope I can articulate the needs, concerns and worries that women and minority groups have.”

The WalkSafe CEO continued in her appeal for solidarity, “It always feels like women's safety is always a woman's concern and responsibility, and one thing I always talk about is how men can show up for women.”

These themes are universal ones for women, not specific to horse racing, transcending various sectors and work places. 

Lucie Turner is a content specialist in iGaming and sports betting. Following the Women’s Day Panel, she reflected on her own experiences. 

“Sports and gambling have long been seen as male-dominated fields, but as a content writer specialist, I’ve witnessed a remarkable shift over the past few years,” she told First.com.

“More businesses I work with are now owned and operated by women, driving change and inspiring others. At Virgin Bet’s Women’s Day Panel, I was uplifted by the stories of trailblazing women in horse racing who’ve overcome challenges and carved out their space.”

Turner concluded by offering her advice to women: “Don’t let being female hold you back - pursue your passion boldly, find your place in this dynamic industry, and let your voice shape its future.”