Michele Costello and Violet Taylor will join the two current female members on the board. Interviews for the position was conducted two weeks ago.

GDRC president Ken Iken says both the women will bring a wealth of experience and ideas to the table and looks forward to working with them in the near future.

The first meeting with the new board, made up of nine members, was on Monday morning. Iken says both were vocal in suggesting progressive ideas for the future. 

“I look forward to their participation on the board,” he said.

“It was an excellent meeting with our new directors participating in a number of debates on how to take the club forward.” 

Michele Costello and Violet Taylor plan to bring a lot to the table as the new directors of the Goulburn and District Racing Club (GDRC).

It’s a new era in racing, especially country racing,” Ikin said. “Three women have been placed on the board by Racing NSW and that’s very exciting. We’re changing the image of racing.”

For Costello, she holds a fond familiarity to the GDRC and describes herself as more than just a hat girl on carnival day.

Holding the position as assistant secretary to the club in the early 2000’s she became “entrenched” in the Liberal Party after meeting MP Pru Goward.

Helping with Goward’s campaign she would later organise fundraisers for Angus Taylor, the Member for Hume. 

Despite her political activities Costello was always involved in the racing industry and has raced horses with her husband for the past 15 years.

“I’ve always had a racing pursuit and have a strong background in event management," she said.  “I’m looking froward to being a part of the new board and leading the club in a new era. It's an exciting time.”

With experience in the winners circle she looks forward to establishing stronger relationships between owners and trainers and building the marketing a sponsorship across club activities.

“I’m standing back from liberal party and now I’ve got the time to get involved in the club."

Taylor, who has worked with major Sydney trainers across her career said it is fantastic women have been picked for leadership positions in a male dominated industry like racing.

“It shows the diversity and openness of the racing club," she said. ”I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity.”

Her aim is to give back to the smaller country clubs and make Goulburn a racing hub. This includes attracting trainers from across NSW as she believes there is an interest to set up stables in the district through future infrastructure. Another agenda on her list is to increase young adults participating in the club.

"Let’s give them an avenue to go out and enjoy the races. We need to show our young adults what they’ve been missing."

Beyond the social glam of racing, like Costello, she says it's not all big hats and champagne. “There’s lots of hard work behind the scenes people don’t get to see. It's about women enabling us to be a part of that new generation of racing.” 

There is still one vacant board position, which will be determined in November as part of the GDRC’s elections.