The panel of judges for the 10th annual Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards has today been confirmed, with a cross-section of industry figures tasked with selecting each category winner after nominations close on Friday 3 January.
Former trainers Ian Balding and Jack Berry and the well-respected Dinah Nicholson, whose late husband David has the Newcomer category named in his honour, will be joined by George McGrath, Chief Executive of the National Association of Stable Staff, Judith Allen, Executive Director of the British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust, and Joe Grimwade, whose former roles as manager of both The Royal Studs and The National Stud make him one of the most respected figures in the bloodstock industry.
It is Joe Grimwade’s first year as a judge for the Awards. He commented:
“It is a huge honour to be invited to make a small contribution to such an enormously important initiative.”
Brough Scott will once again oversee the judging panel. He added:
“These awards are special for me and should be for all in racing. Our judging panel this year has been joined by Joe Grimwade who is just completing 16 years with the Royal Studs and we’re delighted to have him on board”.
After nominations close on Friday 3 January, first the entrants will be narrowed down to a long list of ten by a team of judges at the BHA. Following this the judging panel will have the difficult task of reducing the long list of ten finalists in each category to three finalists. Each of the three finalists will meet with the judges in London on Tuesday 25 February, prior to the announcement of the winners at an evening ceremony on the same day at the Jumeirah Carlton Towers hotel in Knightsbridge.
The Awards, which offer £120,000 in prize money, are sponsored by Godolphin and run by the British Horseracing Authority in association with the Racing Post. They are divided into the following categories; the Leadership Award (formerly High Achiever); the Rider/Groom Award; the Stud Staff Award; Dedication to Racing Award; the David Nicholson Newcomer Award; and the Administration Staff Award.
The Employee of the Year will be selected from the winners of the High Achiever, Rider/Groom, Stud Staff and Dedication to Racing categories.
The deadline for nominations for the Awards is Friday 3 January 2014. Nomination forms are available for download at stage.britishhorseracing.com/stablestaff and via www.racingpost.com. Alternatively, email [email protected] or simply text AWARDS to 07584 171551 and a member of the team will arrange for a form to be sent out.
