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

NESSA JOYCE (Chairperson)

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.

LUCY CUMMINS (Treasurer)

Lucy has been involved with horses all of her life having competed on ponies, ridden out in racing yards in France and Ireland and later went on to do the Irish National Stud Breeding course followed by the Godolphin Flying Start. Lucy is now a practicing solicitor based in Waterford but remains deeply involved in the horse racing industry helping her husband Luke with the running of Belleville Bloodstock.

JACKIE DONOHOE (Secretary)

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.

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.

SARAH DEMPSEY

Sarah is from County Kildare and grew up around horses as her father Philip Dempsey trains National Hunt horses. Sarah studied Commerce in UCD. During college, she took part in the HRI internship programme. She then completed a Masters of Accounting in Smurfit Business School. Sarah qualified as a Chartered Accountant, completing her training within the Corporate Finance department in KPMG. In the last couple of years, she has come back to work full-time for her father – working both in the yard and in the office.

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.

LESLEY-ANN FOX

Lesley-Anne currently works as an Office Administrator at Sycamore Lodge Equine Hospital. She has a Certificate in Equine Business course from Maynooth University. She has worked in various establishments within the industry including Staffordstown Stud, Horse Racing Ireland, race day staff at Curragh and Leopardstown racecourse and BBA Ireland.

LEONA HUGHES

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.

SAM McNAMARA WHITE

Sam currently works as Operations Lead at Navan Racecourse. She is a graduate of Animal Science – Equine course at UCD, during which she completed a professional work placement at Sarah Lynam’s. Since then she has had an interest in racing leading her to completing a masters in Equine Performance and working for the Jockey Club before moving back to Ireland this past year.

SARAH McNICHOLAS

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.

VICKI McWEY

I am originally from Co Wicklow & grew up in a racing family with both my father & grandfather training & riding. From an early age I would have travelled, schooled & ridden out the horses & briefly rode as an amateur rider before deciding the admin side of the business was probably best suited to me! I moved to Kildare at an early age to initially do the Irish National Stud Management & Breeding course which followed a short spell doing yearling prep. Following on from this I was lucky to get a job opportunity in the then Turf Club working in the Licensing & Registrations Department & transferred to HRI where I have been a Supervisor within the Racing Department since 2004 with responsibility for the Registrations Section along with supporting the Entries & Declarations Section. Registrations has responsibility for a massive amount of registrations including naming of horses, owner registrations, colours etc & daily we would be liasing with the Trainers, Secretaries & Owners along with other Racing Jurisdications & Stakeholders. Aside from my passion & interest in racing & breeding I am also have 4 children Rebecca 23, Ciara 19, Kate 16 & Oisin 12 with my husband Michael– all making life busy & interesting!

SHELLEY RAPOPORT

Shelley is from Tipperary but has lived in Kildare for two years. She is a graduate of the Irish National Stud Course and is passionate about the breeding and racing industries.

She has worked in stud farms in Ireland, England and France and is currently working in Grangemore Stud.

MELANIE YOUNG

A graduate of Trinity College Dublin with a degree in primary education, I’ve combined my background in teaching with a lifelong passion for horses to build a career in equestrian marketing. I competed in showing and eventing from a young age, representing Ireland at European Championship level in underage categories. Now, I run a business that supports equestrian brands with social media and marketing, working with clients such as Treo Eile to help them grow their presence and reach within the industry.

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.

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