Nominations closing for Magic Millions Racing Women Achievement Awards

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

With nominations closing in just over three weeks, the Magic Millions Racing Women Achievement Award provide an opportunity to recognise women across all sectors of the thoroughbred industry, from established figures to those making their mark at earlier stages of their careers.

The fourth edition of the Magic Millions Racing Women supported by TAB Achievement Awards will be celebrated at an awards dinner on Friday, January 8 early next year on the Gold Coast, continuing a tradition that began with the inaugural awards in 2024.

Magic Millions awards Administrator Cassandra Simmonds reflected on the awards' development since their introduction in 2024, when Gai Waterhouse and Denise Martin were jointly named the inaugural Racing Women Hall of Fame recipients, while Lindy Maurice was recognised as the National Racing Woman of the Year.

“Next year will be the fourth year of the awards after the first year, the foundation awards with Denise Martin and Gai Waterhouse were put in the Racing Women Hall of Fame and Lindy Maurice was the National Racing Woman of the Year,” Simmonds said.

“It has since evolved to the five state-based categories.”

Recognising women at every stage of their careers

The awards recognise exceptional contributions made by women in their respective states or territories, with nominations open across five categories: Queensland; New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory; Victoria; Tasmania and South Australia; and Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Women working in any sector of the thoroughbred industry are eligible, regardless of their role or career stage, with each category winner to receive a $10,000 Racing Women scholarship from TAB.

With the November 11 deadline approaching, Simmonds stressed the importance of recognising achievements as they happen, rather than waiting until a person has built a lengthy industry record.

“The nominations for the awards close in three weeks. It’s important that everybody out there realises that people can be nominated at any stage of their career, especially if they have done something great in the last 12 months.

“They don't have to be Hall of Fame-worthy before nomination. It’s great to recognise women who are doing great things for the industry at any stage of their careers.”

The awards extend beyond the industry's more visible roles, such as training and riding, to recognise the many people contributing to racing behind the scenes.

Simmonds pointed to last year's winner Sam Swaine as an example of the range of careers represented, noting her involvement in the Melbourne Cup Tour inititative before taking on a major role with MyRacehorse.

“It doesn't always have to be trainers or jockeys. For example, Sam Swaine, a winner last year, played a big part in the Melbourne Cup Tour, and she now plays a major role with MyRacehorse. So those roles are quite different.”

That diversity is also part of the challenge facing the judging panel, which assesses nominees from across the industry rather than comparing people working in the same roles.

“The awards are not role-specific, which does add to the very difficult task that judges do have. It’s not an easy task.”

An experienced judging panel

The judging panel brings together experience from across racing, media, business and the wider sporting landscape.

It includes Magic Millions co-owner and Magic Millions Racing Women founder Katie Page-Harvey; Racing Women patron Zara Tindall MBE; Tabcorp Sponsorship and Events Manager – QLD Sport & Racing Sophie Swain; Sky Racing presenter Bernadette Cooper; Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse; and syndicator Denise Martin.

Waterhouse and Martin joined the panel following their induction into the Racing Women Hall of Fame in 2024, becoming permanent members alongside the others.

Simmonds highlighted the experience the panel brings to the awards and the importance of having people with a broad understanding of the industry assess the nominations.

“We are very lucky to have a panel with those credentials, plenty of national and international expertise.”

Page-Harvey's involvement also reflects the broader push to recognise and support women across sport, beyond the thoroughbred industry alone. Simmonds praised both Page-Harvey's advocacy and Cooper's contribution to racing.

“Katie has been an amazing advocate for women in sports, not just racing, and Bernadette Cooper is Hall of Fame-worthy in what she has done right throughout the industry. It really is a great group of women.”

Alongside recognising achievements, the awards' scholarship component provides a practical benefit for recipients. Each winner receives $10,000 from TAB, with the judging panel considering how nominees intend to use the funding to support their future endeavours in the thoroughbred industry.

Awards set to open the Magic Millions Carnival

The awards will again feature early in the Magic Millions Carnival, with the 2027 presentation scheduled for Friday night, January 8, before the twilight racing meeting on the Gold Coast.

The event brings industry participants together at the beginning of a busy carnival period, providing an opportunity to reconnect before the schedule of racing and social events gathers pace.

Simmonds said the timing helped establish a sense of anticipation as the carnival got underway.

“It kicks everything off and is the first of the events during the carnival on the Friday night. A lot of people are around, and it creates a real buzz at the start of a busy time, so everyone is glad to see each other for the first time. It was a great event last year, and I'm sure it will be again this year.”

Nominations for the 2027 Magic Millions Racing Women supported by TAB Achievement Awards close at midnight AEST on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Women from any sector of the Australian thoroughbred industry can be nominated, with recognition based on their contribution to their state or territory over the preceding 12 months.