The 355th staging of the Newmarket Town Plate (Saturday 23rd August) will be run in honour of the late Valda Embiricos in 2025. Embiricos sadly passed away on July 16th this year at the age of 92.
Valda Embiricos was a true pioneer for women in racing, with her roles encompassing everything from riding, breeding, racehorse ownership and the administration of the sport.
As a rider, she won the Newmarket Town Plate 70 years ago in 1955 aboard her horse Vuples. In winning the famous contest, she was emulating the success of her mother Eileen Joel who rode Hogier to victory to become the race’s first successful female a century ago in 1925. For good measure, Valda’s daughter Alex was successful in the 1984 renewal aboard Summons to make the family successful across three generations in the historic contest.
Aldaniti, who Valda owned in partnership with her late husband Nick, provided her with her greatest day as an owner when he was partnered by Bob Champion to a fairytale success in the 1981 Grand National at Aintree.
Valda’s daughter Alex commented: “My brothers and I are very privileged that this year's Newmarket Town Plate is being run in honour of our mother. She was the ultimate horsewoman, and a true pioneer, not only by winning the Town Plate but also leading the ladies in many point-to-points afterwards.
“Mum and Dana Brudenell Bruce were the first ladies to be elected to The Jockey Club in 1987. She stewarded at Goodwood, Fontwell and Ascot, whilst also sitting on the licencing committee in Portman Square.
“After my father's death in 2018 mum kept a close a very eye on the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, which was set up by Dad after Aldaniti won the Grand National in 1981.
“We wish all horses and jockeys a really great fun day in this most historic race."
Sophie Able, Newmarket Racecourses and International Director, The Jockey Club, said: “Valda Embiricos is one of the few people who can truly be described as a pioneer and her achievements across all aspects of racing were unprecedented.
“We therefore felt it was appropriate to honour Valda by running this year’s Newmarket Town Plate in her honour, 70 years since she won the contest herself as a rider and a century after her mother’s historic success.
“I would like to say thank you to Valda’s family for their support in bringing this about at this sad time and we look forward to what will hopefully be a race worthy of her memory on August 23rd.”
The Newmarket Town Plate is a historic race which has been run at the Home of Horseracing since 1666. It was instigated by King Charles II, who also won the first running and became the first and only reigning monarch to win a race as a jockey. The King stated that the race should be run 'forever’.
Once one of the most prestigious races in the land, the Newmarket Town Plate is now a pinnacle of glorious historical eccentricity, competed for by true amateurs, and brings down the curtain on the summer racing season at Newmarket.
Normally staged over three-and-three-quarter miles and starting outside the racecourse close to The National Stud, this year’s race will take place over a reduced distance of two miles and a furlong due to the extraordinarily dry conditions seen so far in 2025. This means it will take place entirely on the racing surface of The July Course, as was the case in 2022 when there were also prolonged dry conditions.
