New Stewards’ Secretary and Assistant Stewards’ Secretary
Published: 9 December 1997
The Jockey Club has appointed Ashley Bealby as a Stewards’ Secretary, and Louise Willliams as an Assistant Stewards’ Secretary. Ashley will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Colin Vickers, and Louise joins The Jockey Club in a newly created part-time post. She will support the Stewards’ Secretaries in their duties, often acting as a third Stewards’ Secretary, especially at high profile meetings, primarily during the summer.
The new appointments will take effect in the New Year when both Ashley and Louise will begin a thorough training programme.
Ashley, who is 35, brings with him extensive knowledge of racing gained during his four years as Clerk of the Course at Southwell and Wolverhampton. He had previously worked with horses, having come from a farming background, and has a Diploma from the Royal College of Agriculture. His considerable experience as an amateur and point to point rider enhances his excellent credentials for his appointment as a Stewards’ Secretary.
Louise Williams, who is 36, is currently the Commercial Manager and Assistant to the Racecourse Manager at Market Rasen racecourse. She graduated from Cambridge University in 1982, going on to manage and break-in racehorses, while regularly riding in Point to Points. For the past five years, Louise has acted as a Racecourse Steward and is therefore very familiar with the role played by a Stewards’ Secretary.
Commenting on the new appointments, Malcolm Wallace, The Jockey Club Director of Regulation said, “As stewarding in this country becomes more accountable and pressures increase on Racecourse Stewards, it is vital that the advice they receive from their professional advisers, the Stewards’ Secretaries, is of the highest quality. In Ashley and Louise I believe we have two people who will be well equipped to give their advice. I am particularly pleased to see the introduction of the new post, Assistant Stewards’ Secretary. We need an extra pair of hands when the pressure is on and this appointment is a definite step in the right direction.”
Ashley Bealby said, “I am very much looking forward to my new role as a Stewards’ Secretary and would like to thank RAM Racecourses for a tremendous start in the racing industry. Having completed over 450 days as a Clerk of the Course this should set me in good stead for the new role.”
Louise Williams said, “I am absolutely delighted to have been selected as Assistant Stewards’ Secretary. I have finally managed to attain a long-held ambition to work for The Jockey Club, and will work hard to ensure this new position is a success.”
