With nominations open for the 2027 Godolphin Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, we visited the Dubai Future Champions Festival on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile for a special edition of The BHA Podcast.

Godolphin managing director Hugh Anderson emphasises the vital importance of recognising the hard work, passion and dedication of the people working and volunteering at the heart of our sport – and chooses his stand-out moment from over two-decades of celebrations.

We caught up with 2026 Employee of the Year Kieran Kourdache, who reflects his success at February’s ceremony and an incredibly busy year for everyone at Karl Burke Racing.

He also tells us which world-famous judge he will be looking to emulate as he joins our esteemed judging panel.

Also joining the podcast are head judge Nick Luck and his fellow judges Anna Kerr and Eileen Harte, who are all gearing up for another fiendishly difficult task this year.

We get an insight into what exactly our judging panel is looking for in a nomination, and they urge breeders and training yards to nominate their stars – and potentially win a share of the £128,500 prize.

Nominations are open now for the 2027 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin.

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