Trailblazing Australian racehorse trainer and horseracing presenter Charlotte Littlefield is the first rider announced for the 2026 Markel Magnolia Cup. Charlotte is well underway already 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 homeproduced 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.
