In 2012 Magic Millions proudly introduced a world first for women.
Now twelve years later, the ground-breaking Magic Millions Racing Women’s initiative is not only promoting racehorse ownership amongst females – it is increasing first time ownership every year.
Established by Magic Millions owners Katie Page-Harvey and Gerry Harvey, the foundation Racing Women’s Bonus of $500,000 which is on offer to the first four all-female owned or leased horses in finishing order in The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic, is in addition to race prizemoney of now $3,000,000. A key aim of the initiative is to highlight and promote the important roles played by women in the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry.
Whether you’re new into the horse-owning game or already a horse owner you could win BIG, just like the lucky group of twenty female owners of Skirt The Law in 2023, who collected more than $1.5 million for winning The Star Gold Magic Millions 2YO Classic plus first place in the Racing Women’s Bonus. Incredibly in the twelve year history of the Bonus, there have been five winners and two second place-getters of the 2YO Classic which were also owned by all female syndicates and therefore Racing Women’s Bonus eligible.
In addition to Skirt The Law, Real Surreal (pictured right) created history when she won the 2013 edition of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and was the inaugural Racing Women’s Bonus winner. Le Chef (2015), Sunlight (2018) and Away Game (2020) also achieved first place in the race and the Racing Women’s Bonus. The winner of the 2022 2YO Racing Women’s Bonus was Sneaky Starter, ridden by Tiffani Brooker. Poster Girl, proudly owned by Debbie O’Toole, took home the Bonus in 2024 by running sixth. View the Magic Millions Racing Women honour roll of winners.
For entrants into the $3,000,000 The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 2025, a $500,000 Bonus will be distributed to the connections of the first four ‘all female owned or leased horses’ in finishing order.
Bonus Distribution (2YO Classic)
1st – $325,000 (65%) plus $3,500 trophy
2nd – $100,000 (20%)
3rd – $50,000 (10%)
4th – $25,000 (5%)
The horse must be an eligible Magic Millions Yearling Sale graduate and be nominated for the Magic Millions Race Series as the Bonus forms part of the Magic Millions Race Series for 2024 Yearling Sale graduates. Please view the Racing Women’s Bonus registration for further detailed conditions.
The horse must be 100% owned or leased by female connections to be eligible for the Bonus.
To be eligible, the horse must race in 100% female ownership (or lease) at all times prior to and including The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic. The ownership (or lease) must remain unchanged from the horse’s first official race start until the time the Bonus is awarded (unless a change of ownership (or lease) is approved by Magic Millions).
Payment of the $500,000 is guaranteed. Should less than four Bonus eligible horses make the starting field, the portion of the Bonus not won will be distributed evenly amongst the eligible horses who complete the race.
A free registration for all horses targeting the 2YO Bonus in 2025 (and 3YO Bonus in 2026) must be completed by 2 September 2024. This registration form is available here. For more information and enquiries in relation to the Magic Millions Racing Women’s Bonus please contact Cassandra Simmonds on 07 5504 1220 or email [email protected]
$250,000 3YO Racing Women’s Bonus on the $3m Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas
The Magic Millions Racing Women’s initiative has been expanded! On Saturday 11 January 2025, a $250,000 Racing Women’s Bonus will be on offer to the first four eligible all female owned (or leased) horses in finishing order in the $3m Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
Dubious (connections pictured right) was the winner of inaugural 3YO Racing Women’s Bonus in 2020. The winner of the recent 2024 3YO Racing Women’s Bonus was Flying Trapeze.
Bonus Breakdown and Conditions: 1st – $162,500 plus trophy of $2,500, 2nd – $50,000, 3rd -$25,000, 4th -$12,500; subject to Trainer and Jockey deductions. If less than four (4) eligible horses compete in the MM 3YO Guineas, any unused Bonus prizemoney will be distributed evenly between the Bonus eligible horses that finish the race.
To be eligible, a Bonus Registration must have been submitted to Magic Millions by 1 September 2023 when the horse was a 2YO; and the horse must have raced in 100% female ownership (or lease) at all times prior to and including the 2025 Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas. A horse must officially finish the race to be eligible to receive the Racing Women’s Bonus. Should no horse(s) contest the race which are Racing Women’s Bonus eligible, the Bonus will not be distributed.
That’s $750,000 in Racing Women’s Bonuses on offer annually at The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday!
Racing Women in WA
Since 2020 Magic Millions in conjunction with Racing WA has been proud to offer an annual $75,000 2YO WA Racing Women’s Bonus, shared by the first three all-female owned (or leased) horses in finishing order in the $250,000 Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic run at Pinjarra each February in addition to race prizemoney.
For the first time in 2024, a NEW $25,000 3YO WA Racing Women’s Bonus was on offer in the $250,000 Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy. The new $25,000 3YO Bonus will be distributed in entirety annually to the first eligible all-female owned or leased horse in finishing order in the Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy.
That’s $100,000 in WA Racing Women’s Bonuses on offer annually at the Magic Millions WA Raceday! View more info on the Pinjarra Raceday here.
To be eligible for the 2025 (2YO) & 2026 (3YO) WA Racing Women’s Bonus, a free registration for the WA Racing Women’s Bonus must be submitted by 2 September 2024. Complete the WA Bonus registration form here. For further information on the WA Racing Women’s Bonus please contact Cassandra Simmonds on 07 5504 1220 or email [email protected]
Racing Women in Tasmania
Magic Millions & Tasracing are also proud to offer an annual $10,000 Racing Women’s Bonus to the first all female owned (or leased) horse in finishing order in the Magic Millions Tasmania 2YO Classic every February at Launceston. The 2024 Magic Millions Tas Racing Women’s Bonus was won by Ms Tasmania. For further information on the Racing Women’s Bonus in Tasmania, please visit our Launceston Raceday page.
Racing Women Inaugural Ambassador & Racing Women Patron Zara Tindall MBE
In 2012 Zara Tindall MBE was announced as the inaugural Magic Millions Racing Women Ambassador and attended the 2013 Carnival to present the prize to the connections of Magic Millions’ first Racing Women’s Bonus winner in Real Surreal. The second-eldest grandchild of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Zara won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics as a member of the Great Britain Eventing Team.
Since 2015 Zara has returned each year as the Patron of Magic Millions Racing Women, and in conjunction with Katie Page-Harvey, has proudly made the presentation to the Racing Women’s Bonus winners at the 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020 The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Racedays. Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Zara from attending the 2021 & 2022 Racedays, Zara proudly and actively continued her role as Patron of Magic Millions Racing Women from the UK, and was back in attendance at the Gold Coast from January 2023 and annually thereafter. She most recently presented the 2YO Racing Women’s Bonus winner’s trophy to the ecstatic female owner of Poster Girl, Debbie O’Toole.
Zara Tindall MBE Career
Zara Tindall was born on 15 May 1981 in London and is the only daughter of Princess Anne, the Princess Royal and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips.
Following a successful career in young riders, which included victory in the Under 25 Championship at Bramham and an individual silver medal in the European Young Riders Championship in 2002, Zara really established herself at senior level in 2003 by finishing second at Burghley three day event with Toytown.
A polished display in the dressage arena and a fast and clear cross country round gave her the lead going in to the show jumping and although one fence down dropped her to second behind the Rolex Grand Slam champion Pippa Funnell, it was still a remarkable display from the then 22 year old in her first attempt at four-star level.
Following that performance, Zara was long listed for Athens in 2004 but her hopes of emulating her parents by competing with the British event team at an Olympic Games were dashed by an injury to Toytown that ruled him out for the rest of the year.
In June 2005, Zara put that disappointment behind her with a great performance at the newly upgraded four star event in Luhmuhlen. She finished on her dressage score to take second place with Toytown and earn selection, originally as an individual, for the European Championships at Blenheim in September. Following the withdrawal of Primmore’s Pride, Zara replaced Pippa Funnell on the British team for Blenheim.
Showing composure beyond her years, Zara rode into history by taking two gold medals on her senior debut (individual and team), exceeding the achievement of her mother, who won the individual title at the European Championships in 1971.
In 2006, Zara achieved her greatest result to date by winning Individual Gold and Team Silver at the World Equestrian Games, Aachen 2006 where she rode Toytown.
Following her gold medal at the World Equestrian Games Zara was awarded the 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the year.
Zara was selected for the 2008 Beijing Olympics with Toytown. However it was not to be, for the second time Zara was denied the chance to compete at the Games through an injury to Toytown. At the end of the year this was followed by her own injury when she fell from her horse whilst competing and broke her collarbone.
Following her injury and the disappointment of losing her place in 2008 Olympic team, Zara trained hard with her stable of horses, firmly setting her sights on reaching the 2012 Olympic Games.
In 2012, Zara had a fantastic start to the season winning at Tweseldown and securing six top five finishes at Gatcombe, Burnham and Bramham. In June she was announced as a member of the British Equestrian Team for the London 2012 Olympics Games, joining riders William Fox-Pitt, Mary King, Tina Cook and Nicola Wilson. Despite being the youngest rider on the team, Zara showed great strength under enormous pressure with a solid dressage display and a flawless performance in the cross country round. With strong showings from Zara and her fellow riders in the final show jumping round, the team rose to the occasion winning a well-earned silver medal.
