Cover image courtesy of Victorian Wakeful Club
With TTR’s Vicky Leonard winning the 2025 Lady Of Racing Award, Leonard will be at the award ceremony on March 4 to see the mantle handed over to the 2026 winner. A celebration lunch at Caulfield racecourse will be followed by a Wednesday evening twilight race meeting.
The three finalists for 2026 are Briga Fliedner, Carrie Hu, and Natashia Radford.
Fliedner’s dedication to country racing
Country Racing Victoria board member Briga Fliedner lives and breathes racehorses. She’s been a member of the Bendigo Jockey Club since 1998. Prior to her marriage to trainer Shane Fliedner, Briga won the Mildura Leading Trainer Award in 1996/97.
From this background of experience, Fleidner has focused on her work at the Bendigo Jockey Club and on the board of Country Racing Victoria to drive major infrastructure upgrades, grow membership numbers, and increase community engagement across Country Racing Victoria.
Fleidner brings together elite technical expertise with strategic vision, ensuring country racing clubs can evolve, grow and thrive under their current leadership, while providing pathways for new leaders to emerge.
“Respected for her integrity and collaborative spirit, she embodies the leadership, dedication and passion celebrated by the Lady of Racing Award and the Victorian Wakeful Club,” said the Wakeful Club press release.
Hu’s breeding industry influence
The Chief Executive Officer of Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria Carrie Hu came through the Godolphin Flying Start program, and brings a combination of global understanding and deep breeding industry knowledge to her role.
During her tenure at the TBV, Hu has built the Victorian Breeding Awards into a flagship celebration for Victorian breeders and their successes on the track. Hu’s experience across practical horsemanship, pedigree analysis and industry governance, allows Hu to communicate between breeders and the various racing and non-racing administrative bodies, PRAs, and governments to progress the needs of Victorian breeders.
“Widely respected for her professionalism, strategic thinking and tireless energy, Carrie continues to expand the reach of Victorian racing, ensuring the thoroughbred story resonates with the next generation of participants and fans alike.”
Radford’s integrity expands off the track
Natashia Radford was the first woman to officiate at metro level for Racing Victoria. She began as a race day judge in 2015 in NSW, and has officiated at meetings across Australia, as well as in Hong Kong, the UK and France. Her position requires a deep understanding of the Australian Rules Of Racing, as well as race day protocols around integrity and safety. Radford is also a member of Racing Victoria’s OHS and Consultative Committee, further illustrating her commitment to integrity-based decision making.
A keen retrainer of racehorses, Radford is a winner of the Equimillion with her Off-The-Track Thoroughbred Boo, and also has placed in several Racing Victoria Off The Track competitions.
“Widely respected for her integrity, courage and advocacy, Natashia continues to expand what leadership in officiating looks like - inspiring more women to see a place for themselves at every level of Victorian racing.”
Tickets for the celebration lunch are on sale, and can be purchased from the Wakeful Club website.
