Outlook remains sunny for Warwick clerk of the course

Appointed as clerk of the course at Warwick and Huntingdon in January, she saw her first meeting at both venues lost to the weather, but has overcome adversity and settled into her role with aplomb.

Not that it has all been plain sailing as Sulekha has been battling the elements ever since.

After Warwick’s Easter Monday Flat meeting was run in poor weather, the following one was lost to waterlogging and it looked like the flagship Ladies’ Night, featuring platinum-selling band The Overtones, would go the same way.

But some quick thinking and support from colleagues at sister Jockey Club courses Cheltenham and Huntingdon saw the meeting switched to the jumps course.

Well supported by leading trainers including Nicky Henderson, the sun even shone to cap a successful evening.

Although born in Cardiff, Sulekha moved to Scotland at eight months and, apart from a spell in Liverpool, spent much of her formative years there. Like many a young girl, she wanted a pony and rode from the age of nine.

The idea of working in racing did not come until after university despite her gaining work experience at the stable of leading Scottish jumps trainer Lucinda Russell in the course of her studies.

On graduating, she had a two-year spell as Russell’s stable secretary, followed by a job in the growing sport of Arab Racing, which took her around the country organising meetings at various racecourses.

This led to a role as a trainee with the Jockey Club in October 2009, based at Haydock Park, and Sulekha qualified as a clerk six months later.

She got her first job working at Nottingham and Market Rasen before Andrew Morris’ move from Warwick to Chester gave her the chance to take her career to another level.

“The move to Warwick was an opportunity to gain experience of a higher quality of races in a more central location, as well as building relationships with more trainers and jockeys,” she said.

Communication is a key element of a clerk’s role, keeping everyone, particularly trainers, informed about track conditions and the weather.

Sulekha is a regular user of Twitter and sees this as an important tool of the trade.

“I joined Twitter about two-and- half years ago when I realised there was a bit of a racing community developing. News breaks more quickly nowadays and it’s a free way of making contact and getting information to a wide audience.

“But I always make sure that announcements go through the official channels first, although people are turning more to social networking sites for their news.”

Helping out at the big festival meetings at Newmarket and Aintree this year has added to Sulekha’s knowledge and experience.

And, with 14 courses in the Jockey Club portfolio, Sulekha is certainly one to follow as she looks to take her next step up the racing ladder.