Influencer Kate Hutchins is already a winner in the fashion stakes. Now she’s riding in the Markel Magnolia Cup at Goodwood on Thursday
Kate Hutchins is swapping glamorous outfits for silks(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for The Frankie Shop)
Fast fashion has helped Kate Hutchins win more than 2.8 million social media followers, and now she hopes a fast horse can help her win new admirers in Britain’s most prestigious charity race.
The 28-year-old London-based content creator has made a career out of influencing since leaving uni.
She has travelled the world promoting both high-street and high-end brands while vlogging her life on her channels—and earned a living doing it.
On Thursday at Goodwood racecourse, the King’s Trust International’s Project Lehar will receive the cut of the more than £2.4m raised when Kate and 11 other leading women from business, sport, fashion and media ride in the Markel Magnolia Cup. None are full-time riders.
“When I was emailed a jockey declaration form, I just thought they had the wrong person,” says Kate. “But after hopping on a Zoom call with Goodwood, I said ‘yes’ without even thinking.
Kate will ride at Goodwood(Image: Holland Cooper)
“They’d seen me because quite a few of my equestrian lifestyle videos had gone viral, so they knew I rode horses and they wanted someone in the public eye to try to help them raise as much money for charity as possible.”
Up to now, Kate’s experience on horseback had been as a ‘happy hacker’.
“I started riding for my mental health really because my job is very glamorous and very intense, all of it online, and I needed to get out of the house and be somewhere where I didn’t need to be on my phone,” she explains.
“I don’t have to worry about setting goals and trying to compete, but could literally be with my horse in the countryside enjoying myself.”
Her clients range from high street brands Abercrombie and H&M to Harrods, Loro Piana, Jimmy Choo and L’Oreal.
“It’s the dream career for me because I’ve always been creative and I love fashion,” says Kate. “I have been full-time since university and it’s given me amazing opportunities. I have created a nice life for myself. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
For the Magnolia Cup, a sprint race along four furlongs [half a mile] of the Goodwood straight, Kate bought her own racehorse.
She has already tasted victory as an owner after nine-year-old gelding Abate won a race for professionals at Lingfield nine days earlier. Off the back of that all the way success, he will be a hot favourite on Thursday if Kate can mimic winning jockey Pat Cosgrave.
“I’ve kind of had to learn the hard way, but Abate’s trainer, George Baker, has been so kind,” she says. “I have found it kind of humbling. I have felt I’ve had to learn to ride from scratch again because all the buttons are different.
“No one had ever told me you have to shorten your reins to go faster, so I’ve had to find out the hard way.”
Kate had to carry out fitness tests(Image: Getty Images for Focus Features, UNIVERSAL Pictures And Carnival Films)
Kate was put through mandatory fitness drills to secure her place in the field and has been riding out since September at Baker’s stables in Epsom, Surrey.
“You have to pass three official jockey fitness tests and need to hit 60 percent to get through,” she says.
“They were gruelling. They were so difficult. Before this, I had little to no fitness, no cardio, I couldn’t do anything. That’s all changed.”
With Thursday’s race to be started by flag, getting the horses lined up and ready to run is often the biggest challenge for the inexperienced riders. Kate has done her homework.
“I have watched all the Magnolia Cups and analysed them, because it’s all about the start,” she says. “I’d be devastated if I messed up the start, but it’s something I can’t practice.
“The race is a straight line. I won’t have to think about tactics, just try to give him a really good start, nick some lengths at the beginning, and go for out.
“I’m actually looking forward to riding him, not having to hold him back, but to let him do his thing. This will be the first time I will be going as fast as this.”