About Us

VISION

Women attending, participating in, and leading the Irish horseracing industry to a better future

MISSION

To encourage women to enjoy horseracing,
to celebrate and nurture women’s talent to progress their careers in horseracing to positions of influence

VALUES

Collaboration

Working together for the progress of all women in the industry, not getting in each others way

Appreciation

Celebrating and promoting women’s horseracing success publicly, personally and collectively

Opportunity

Playing our part in developing talent and succession by mentoring, sharing insights and encouraging women

Dignity

Respect and defend the dignity of women

Love of the Horse

Have the welfare and care of the racehorse at the heart of our decision making

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

SARAH McNICHOLAS (Chairperson)

Sarah was educated at Trinity College Dublin and Brunel University in the UK. She joined the IEC in December 2013 taking on the newly created role of Chief Executive. Previously, Sarah had worked as an investment banker in the City of London for nearly twenty years advising clients in the technology and biotechnology sectors. Sarah has had an interest in breeding and racing all her life and has a small number of mares at stud.

LUCY BLAKE (Treasurer)

Lucy grew up in Laois, but is now a resident of Wexford. She is a graduate of the Irish National Stud Course and the Godolphin Flying Start programme. She previously worked at Norelands Stud in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, and is currently a trainee Solicitor having studied Law with Economics in UCD. More recently Lucy began pinhooking Flat and National Hunt foals under the Belleville Bloodstock banner who she runs with her partner Luke.

LEONA HUGHES (Secretary)

Leona currently works as Sponsorship Manager at Punchestown Racecourse. She is a graduate of the Equine Business course at Maynooth University and continued her education through the ITBA Next Generation programme. She has worked in various establishments within the industry including Grangemore Stud, Jessica Harrington Racing and BBA Ireland and she currently pinhooks breezers with her dad Emmanuel under the San Antone Lodge banner.

ORLA McKENNA

Orla McKenna is Head of Bloodstock at Tattersalls Ireland where she has worked since 2006. She is married to Donal and they have 2 sons Ben (23) Oisin (21). They live in Collon, Co Louth. Racing has always been part of Orla’s life and she rides out occasionally with trainer Gavin Cromwell. She took part in the 2018 Corinthian Jockeys challenge which she describes as “a fantastic experience”. Orla likes to cycle and play golf in her spare time. As a member of the WINR committee she aims to help create and grow the initiative for women within the racing and bloodstock industry.

JACKIE DONOHOE

Jackie is from County Kilkenny but currently a Kildare resident. Jackie has had a keen interest from a young age, between owning ponies to helping with the Family Business at the Sport & Bloodstock Sales in Goresbridge. After completing a business degree with a major in marketing, Jackie went straight into working for Leopardstown Racecourse. For the past 9 years Jackie has worked between Leopardstown Racecourse, Sales and Marketing Manager at Naas Racecourse and more recently back to work with Leopardstown / Horse Racing Ireland on the sponsorship / commercial side of the organisation.

FIONA DOWLING

Fiona is from Listowel in Co. Kerry. Fiona completed The Irish National Stud course in 2007 and then worked for Gordon Elliott for many years at the start of his training career. During this time Fiona led up Silver Birch to win the 2007 Aintree Grand National and also held an amateur licence riding two winners on the point-to-point circuit. Following this Fiona spent time working in the thoroughbred industry in America, New Zealand, Australia and the UK and completed the Horseracing MBA from the University of Liverpool in 2019. Fiona previously set up Horseracing Degree programmes at Hartpury University in the UK and was Education Manager at The National Stud in Newmarket. Fiona now works at RACE in Kildare and also spends time in Co. Cork where she aims to expand a small National Hunt breeding operation.

NESSA JOYCE

Nessa is originally from Co Meath but now living in Co Carlow. Her career in the horse industry started like many, with a love for horses and she converted that love into rewarding jobs in Lexington, Kentucky at Fasig Tipton Sales company for six years and then back to Ireland for the last sixteen years. She took up various prominent roles within Horse Racing Ireland (Racecourse Division) at Fairyhouse Racecourse, Tipperary Racecourse and as Racing and Operations Manager at Leopardstown Racecourse. In 2015, Nessa started her current position as Manager of the Irish European Breeders’ Fund, who provide additional prize-money to Irish racing through generous contributions from Irish Stallion farms.

ERIN CAMPBELL

Erin is from Co. Tyrone and has been involved in horses from a young age, riding pony racing when she was younger before moving to the UK and working in racing for a few years. Erin then studied Equine Science and graduated from Hartpury University in 2021. She then joined Connolly’s Red Mills in the UK before moving back to Ireland and continuing her role with Red Mills as a Nutritionist.

MELISSA STEELE

Melissa was born and raised in the UK but now based in Tipperary, Ireland. She graduated in Economics from University of Edinburgh before gaining a place on the Godolphin Flying Start programme in 2013. She worked as a marketing executive for Tattersalls in Newmarket for five years and has contributed in a freelance capacity to the racing publications Thoroughbred Daily News and the Irish Field. Melissa currently works as a Senior Account Manager at Sydney-based marketing agency, Kick Collective.

CAROLINE BRINDLEY

Caroline has always had an interest in racing, following both National Hunt and Flat codes. However, when COVID struck she moved back home, where her brother’s business sparked a deeper interest in the breeding side of the industry. Since then, Caroline has purchased a mare and several foals with the intention of pinhooking them. For the past five years, Caroline has been fortunate to work as the brand manager for GAIN Equine Nutrition, where she has seen the contributions of many incredible women in the industry. She is keen to be part of an organization that highlights and promotes their achievements.

Founder Members

CLODAGH KAVANAGH

Clodagh Kavanagh is the Executive Director of Godolphin Flying Start where she provides strategic leadership and mentors trainees across Ireland, Australia, the UK, USA, and Dubai. Prior to her current role, Clodagh was General Manager at RACE and has worked globally for industry leaders in Kentucky, New Zealand and Australia. A co-founder and former Chair of WINR, Clodagh also serves on the board of the Irish National Stud.

META OSBORNE

Meta is a Kildare native, an equine vet with a focus on broodmare reproduction and co-owner of Tinnakill House, a leading commercial Irish stud. She is a Past-President of the Irish Veterinary Association and the Veterinary Council of Ireland. She was the first female Senior Steward of the Turf Club and is a board member of Horse Racing Ireland.

Current Chair, Sarah McNicholas and HRI CEO Suzanne Eade are also founder members of WINR.