The Jockey Club announces today that Helen Willis has been appointed as the new General Manager of Carlisle Racecourse.

 

Willis will assume her new role in mid-July and she succeeds Molly Dingwall, who is making the move south to take up duties as General Manager of Haydock Park Racecourse.

A graduate of Bishop Burton College in East Yorkshire, where she obtained a First Class degree in Equine Business Management, Willis joined The Jockey Club in March 2021 as a Customer Relations Executive.

After undergoing further training, she was appointed a Trainee General Manager in February of this year and has worked across many of The Jockey Club’s crown jewel events including The Festival™ at Cheltenham, Aintree’s Randox Grand National and The Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs.

Prior to her employment at The Jockey Club, Willis worked as Racing Secretary to Group One-winning trainer Bryan Smart in North Yorkshire.

Helen Willis said:

“I am thrilled to have secured the role of General Manager at Carlisle Racecourse.

“Having gained experience across the group, I have greatly enjoyed my role as Trainee General Manager this year. I am extremely grateful to everyone I have had the pleasure of working with for all their invaluable help and guidance.

“Carlisle holds a unique place in The Jockey Club as its most northerly venue and with a strong local support base. I am relishing assisting the racecourse’s continued development in the times ahead.”

Dickon White, Regional Director, The Jockey Club North West, added:

“Helen has been a very valued team member since joining The Jockey Club last year.

“With her experience across the group and the wider racing world, I am sure she is exactly the right person to continue to take Carlisle forward and further build on the excellent progress made by Molly Dingwall over the past four years.”