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The Healesville picnic race meeting on Sunday will see history made when RVL deputy steward Heidi Keighran becomes the first full-time female steward in Australia to chair a race meeting.
Keighran will preside over a six-race picnic meeting at Healesville, with the first race to jump at 1:25pm.
“I always imagined chairing my first meeting at Healesville,” Keighran said, recalling her time spent at the venue as a cadet steward.
“Also Pat Lalor, a former Chairman of Stewards, is actively involved in the Healesville Amateur Racing Club. That adds another level of importance for me.”
It has been a fast-tracked career for the dedicated 23-year-old, who turned to other aspects of racing after becoming too big to be a jockey.
A passionate horse lover, Keighran is the daughter of former Kyneton based trainer Gary, who himself rode before taking out his trainer’s licence.
While completing her VCE at Sacred Heart College in Kyneton, Keighran worked part-time with the then VRC stewards.
“I wanted a career in racing and because I enjoyed my work experience so much I had a go at stewarding,” Keighran said.
After successfully applying for a job in Racing Victoria Limited’s licensing and farrier department, Keighran pounced on a cadet steward vacancy.
She became the first female to be appointed to the stewards’ panel in Victoria.
“I love the horses, travelling the state and meeting new people,” Keighran said.
Midway through her four-year cadetship Keighran successfully applied for the Australian Racing Board’s Chairman’s Fellowship, which is a travel scholarship funded by Warren Block.
On her six-week educational tour Keighran spent time in Hong Kong, Macau, America, Ireland and England, where she attended race meetings at Sha Tin, Churchill Downs, Leopardstown and Epsom and visited various institutions such as Coolmore, trackwork at The Curragh, University of Arizona and Kentucky Horse Park. One highlight was working alongside Hong Kong steward John Schreck.
Upon returning Keighran was given the news her cadetship would be prematurely ended. She was promoted to assistant stipendiary steward.
On Sunday Keighran will post her next milestone in an already highly-praised career.
“Every steward works towards chairing their first meeting,” Keighran said.
“I have had some great help and guidance from several other stewards on our panel to whom I am very grateful because I wouldn’t be doing this meeting if it wasn’t for them.”
According to Chairman of Stewards Des Gleeson, Keighran is ready to take her history-making step on Sunday.
“Heidi has gained invaluable experience in country and metropolitan meetings and has earned the respect of participants in the industry,” Gleeson said.
“The Victorian picnic racing circuit is a very strong circuit. Chairing a meeting is a big responsibility but Heidi has the experience and expertise to handle it. It’s a feather in her cap.”
