FOOTBALL FOCUS presenter Rachel Stringer grew up dreaming of being a professional athlete – but it won’t be her doing all the running at Glorious Goodwood.
Stringer is one of 12 female amateur jockeys saddling up in the Magnolia Cup.
She will take her place alongside Marco Reus’ wife Scarlett and Frankie Dettori’s teenage daughter Ella in the charity contest.
A top class runner at 800m, Stringer represented Team GB at the European Youth Olympics and Commonwealth Youth Games.
But after going to Loughborough University, a chance introduction to radio led to her current career in broadcasting.
She has done a bit of everything in between, coupling Football Focus with snooker and superbikes – funnily enough the only thing that might have got her ready for the challenge at Goodwood.
It was covering the action on two wheels that Stringer said she noticed she was the only woman in the paddock.
That won’t be the case at Goodwood, as the Magnolia Cup is there to boost everything positive about women in racing, something already apparent given the success of Rachael Blackmore, Hollie Doyle and Co.
Stringer said: “In superbikes I am the only girl in the paddock, but I am never made to feel out of place.
“I feel very proud that I am doing this job.
“The young girls who are passionate about watching the superbikes often come and say they love seeing me presenting.
“I hope I am encouraging those young girls into the sport in the future in some way.”
As part of her preparation for the race on July 29, Stringer has been getting up at 4am to ride out.
She posted a photo of herself at George Margarson’s yard in Newmarket looking every inch the pro, despite never having ridden a horse before.
Speaking of being involved, Stringer said: “So for some reason I decided on the 8th March this year that I would learn to ride a racehorse with the aim of racing in the @goodwood_races #magnoliacupbymarkel in July.
“I am not from a horsey background and have zero riding experience so this is a completely new adventure for me and what an adventure it has been so far.”
We’ll find out just how good she is shortly – and if she’s better on two wheels or four legs.
All the riders’ fundraising pages for 2021 can be found at https://smartworks.enthuse.com/cf/the-magnolia-cup
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