Baroness Dido Harding will become the first woman to become a senior steward of the Jockey Club, when she takes up the unpaid role in 2024.

Better known for her role in the track-and-trace programme run by the UK government during the pandemic, Harding has been involved in racing since a young age. She has continued to participate in different roles in the industry over the last twenty-five years, winning the Gold Cup as an owner with Cool Dawn in 1998 before reliving her amateur jockey success when taking the charity Magnolia Cup at Glorious Goodwood in 2017.

"As a lifelong racing enthusiast, it is a huge privilege to be appointed senior steward," said Harding.

"The Jockey Club holds a unique position to both protect the sport's heritage and tradition and also to innovate to attract and delight racegoers of the future to ensure horseracing can thrive for generations to come."

The position is currently held by Sandy Dudgeon until July 2024 and he was enthuistic in praising his replacement: "Dido has been a terrific asset to the board of stewards since she joined in 2017. She has brought a wealth of experience, deep knowledge of the industry and a lifelong enthusiasm for our sport. I would like to wish her every success as senior steward when she takes up the role in July next year."

Three notable names from the industry – Zara Tindall, Sam Waley-Cohen and Rishi Persad – will also join the Jockey Club's board of stewards from 1 January 2021.