Ladies Days at the Races
with Racing Weather

Professional event host, with a family heritage of horse racing — who better to guide your ladies' day at the races? 

If you scroll down, you'll see that Emma's family has been actively involved in horseracing for decades and her highly specific 'Racing Weather' sporting service has organically evolved into 'Racing Ladies' - a personalised ladies' race day and event service led by Emma; she'll organise your special day from start to finish. 

Whether it's your first time visiting a racecourse, or you're a Grand National veteran, take advantage of Emma's knowledge and contacts to bring together friends, family or colleagues at your own bespoke Ladies Day at the Races.  

Enjoy all the glamour, fun and excitement the races has to offer — with a touch of pure star-quality.  

What's more, whether you're deciding where to go, how to spread your bets or just wondering what to wear, having a professional weather forecaster as your guide, is a handy thing…

Racing Weather
Company race days and nights

"Racing Weather" produces highly specialized weather forecasts specifically tailored to the sport of horseracing - 'time specific, race specific and evapotranspiration specific', her sporting weather service is delivered directly into some of the top racetracks in the country. 

As such, she is also in demand to host company race days and nights.

Fancy a sprinkling of celebrities at your table? Take a look at Emma's photos from annual glittering horse racing awards 'The Lesters'.  Organised by Emma, their table of 'Racing Ladies' guests were thrilled to chat with author Jilly Cooper (notepad in tow, getting research under her belt for her next book) Emmerdale actress and avid horsewoman Claire King - the professionals were also on hand to give a few tips - twice Grand National-winning jump-jockey Carl Llewellyn and twenty times Champion Jockey AP McCoy!

Racing Connections
Keeping it in the family…

'The Galloping Major'

Emma's family have been involved in racing for many years. 

Emma’s grandfather, Major Thomas Edward Jesson, who lived in St Anne's-On-Sea, Lancashire, was a well known racehorse owner, retired lawyer, magistrate for over two decades and MP for Rochdale (1931-1935). Affectionately known as “The Galloping Major”, Thomas Jesson had many interests, but horse racing was always his first love.  

He was one of the first patrons of Sir Noel Murless — lending him his first hundred pounds to buy tack. The Major could always be seen about town riding in his pony and trap. Or even on a bicycle. He never liked cars. Mechanical speed did not impress him.

His son - Emma's father - Bob 'Bobby' Hargreaves - weighed only two pounds at birth - with more ailments than you could shake a riding crop at. Bobby was so weak as a child that doctors thought riding would be good for him. And so it proved.

Emma's father, Bob Hargreaves

Inheriting his own father's passion, Bob rode every day with The Major, and became an accomplished show-jumper - and ultimately one of the leading amateur National Hunt jockeys in the North of England.

Riding regularly while serving with the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery, and taking part in events like the Royal Tournament on his own horse Red Rover, it was during this time at St. John's Wood that Bob met some of the more recognised names in racing, alongside whom he would later compete.

Bob rode many of his father's horses. His first ride under rules in public was for David Dick of Epsom —  father of Grand National winning jockey, the late D.V. Dick — on ‘Golden Wedding’ at Windsor.

Other racing colleagues who became friends were Stan Mellor, Jonjo O'Neill, Fred Winter, Brian Marshall, George Milburn, the Maloney brothers and Tim Brookshaw.

He treasures memories of his win on 'Terrible Turk' at Wolverhampton – especially precious he recalls, as it was one of the few times his father was present; the Major, cheering him on from the crowd.  

Bob was also associated with 'Creggmore Boy' who still holds the record for being the oldest horse to race under rules in the 20th century. One winner Bobby rode under rules was 'Bright Mable' at Uttoxeter in October 1953. He won by two heads in a photo finish, beating two of the leading professional jockeys of the time, Peter Major and George Vergette. 'Filon D'Or' also won the Kim Muir for the Major in 1957.

Injury was as much of a risk then as it is now - if not more so. And Bobby did not escape unscathed.  On 'Hill of Saul', during a steeplechase at Rothbury near Newcastle in April 1954, he was ridden onto the rail and broke a leg - they were solid then. Ignoring the severity of the injury, he rode three more races, but nearly lost the leg, and treatment involved several major operations. Plaster cast and traction put paid to his racing career for a further 18 months

The Aston family; Rosemary, Richard and Sally Aston of Goldford Stud, have been friends for many years - Bob’s daughter, Emma, sharing Richard’s 21st birthday party when she was just a tot.

Winning the Liverpool Trophy

Bob was presented with the Liverpool Hurdle Trophy in 1961, when his horse 'Law and Order' won the race on Grand National Day at Aintree. Offered £100 cash or the trophy, Bob chose the cup — out of sentimentality for his favourite horse. 

The glorious 1961 hand-engraved Liverpool Hurdle trophy is solid silver and sits on a three tier, square rosewood plinth.

Bob's Legacy

After a brave battle with cancer, Bob sadly passed away on the 7th of April, 2009.

All his favourite jockeys continued to text and encourage him throughout his treatment, including Carl Llewellyn, Richard Dunwoody and 2010 Grand National winner AP McCoy.

In 2010, Emma and her mother Shirley, decided to donate his trophy to Aintree Racecourse — to be presented every year in honour of his memory, at the John Smith's Grand National Meeting.

Exactly a year to the day after her father passed away, Emma made the inaugural presentation to Andy Stewart and his family, owners of the winner of the race, 'Big Bucks'. An emotional day, she was especially touched to be told by Andy that he remembered 'Law and Order'. 

'Big Bucks' went on to win the race and the trophy for two more consecutive years - and was appropriately named considering 'Law and Order' originally won the race at a grand old price of 33-1!

Robert - Bob’s - family are very proud of him. He loved his horses and National Hunt racing so much, and by re-presenting his trophy each year they feel that he will live on as part of the fabric of the horse racing community which he loved and respected.