It’s been a banner Spring for women in Thoroughbred racing. Cherie DeVaux’s landmark victory in Kentucky Derby 152 made her the first female trainer to accomplish the feat and just the second to win a Triple Crown race. The first, Jena Antonucci, won the Belmont Stakes with Arcangelo in 2023. In both cases, their message was the same: Women can do anything.
Zoey Schorsch echoes the sentiment. The 26-year-old is on track to become the first American to compete in the Markel Magnolia Cup, a 5 1/2 furlong race for amateur lady riders run annually during the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The charity event is scheduled for Thursday, July 30 and will benefit the Education Above All Foundation.
“Over the past 15 years, the Markel Magnolia Cup has become a powerful force for real and lasting change, championing women and raising more than 3.5 million pounds for vital causes,” according to the Duke of Richmond, chairman of the Goodwood Estate.
In an interview in Forbes Magazine last month, Zoey said, “I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to represent the United States and my company (Audrain Group) in the Markel Magnolia Cup. I never expected that I would train as a jockey, but I’ve been inspired by the women, past and present, who compete in this race. I’m honored to be part of it, and I hope my story encourages others to step forward with confidence and embrace unexpected opportunities that can change the course of their lives.”
Zoey spent part of this winter in Florida before coming to Fair Hill and galloping horses for Herringswell in the mornings in preparation for the event.
“There was no training program already set up,” she said in her online Magnolia Cup Diaries. “No one’s configured this. I was struggling with how to set up a training regimen to prepare me for England while also training in the United States in the winter time while I was doing most of my travelling and, where I live in the Northeast, no horses were really racing. I was having to go to Florida and Maryland, and I go over to the UK to train, so that’s definitely been a lot of travelling. I’m keeping myself physically active, getting prepared for just how physically fit you need to be for this.
But I think it was also so great as the first American, I was really inspired by the great (Olympic figure skating gold medalist) Alysa Liu; she said that doing the Olympics was not about winning gold, it was about gaining experience. And I think that’s where I really go into this journey, is that I just want to do this. I hope I win, and I want to win – that’s why I ride. But I really just love this experience. I love being around the women, I love being around the trainers and horses and the staff at Goodwood. I don’t want this journey to be over. I hope I represent us well, I hope I represent the LGBTQ community well, I hope I represent how to be an ethical horse racer well. And I hope a raise a lot of money for this charity, which supports 18.3 million students, children and young adults gaining education, economic empowerment and I think that’s something that I am a big advocate of and the United States is a big advocate of.”
Asked about her time at Fair Hill, Zoey was enthusiastic in her praise.
“I’m so grateful for Herringswell, especially Graham and Anita for taking me under their wing and providing me with a safe space to learn and train. Not only are they great people, but great trainers who really care for their horses on and off the track and take pride in all the staff that make Herringswell possible. I feel honored to be able to call myself part of the team.”
Zoey plans to return to Fair Hill again in June for another tune-up before heading to England for her final preparations. Please join us in wishing her well in the Markel Magnolia Cup!
