WATERHOUSE A POWER PLAYER
Gai Waterhouse Is Ranked Highly In The Most Recent Power 100 List Of Influential Women In Australian Sport
March 9, 2023
To celebrate International Women’s Day, the Daily Telegraph released a Power 100 Most Influential Women in Australian Sport.
Gai Waterhouse, racing’s first lady, featured prominently at number two on the list. She’s a household name who commands considerable power and influence. The daughter of legendary trainer Tommy Smith, she started her training career more than three decades ago and has since won almost every race worth winning.
Inducted into racing’s Hall Of Fame in 2007 and the Sport Australia Hall Of Fame in 2018, the much-loved Waterhouse remains as flamboyant and forthright as ever.
Successful trainer Annabel Neasham spoke to the ATC (below) and said people like Gai have pushed those doors down.
Another successful person in racing, Katie Page featured at number three.
Like Waterhouse, Page has been a trailblazer for women in the industry. She has worked overtime trying to increase female participation in the sport with initiatives including lucrative bonuses for horses owned only by women.
Page has been a prominent voice in Australian sport since becoming the first female on an Australian sporting board when she was involved in rugby league administration.
Melinda Madigan, EGM Commercial at the Australian Turf Club, featured as she has helped transform Sydney’s racing carnivals into one of the largest parties on
the sporting calendar.
On International Women’s Day, Melinda commented that she often reflects on racing’s journey. She said whilst impossible to imagine just before 1980 when women were allowed to become full members of racing, today racing is a thriving industry that celebrates achievements of women of all walks of life and job descriptions.
Pleasingly here at ATC we are getting close to 50% females on our executive team and our Board and have strong female representation on our Emerging Leaders Program. I am proud of the achievements and contributions of every woman across our organisation.
Power 100 courtesy: The Daily Telegraph