Nominations for this year’s Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards have been pouring in thick and fast and the BHA is delighted to announce that nearly 150 entries to the 2010 awards have been received. This figure is almost double the number of entries in 2009 and nominations have come from a wealth of industry insiders, including trainers, owners and other members of racing staff.
The annual Awards take place on Monday 1st March, 2010 at the Jumeirah Carlton Hotel in London and are once again kindly sponsored by Godolphin, who have increased prize money to £120,000.
The final judging panel has been confirmed and is made up of the following people; Brough Scott, Dinah Nicholson, Morag Gray, Miles Littlewort and John Reid. Over the next two weeks the entries will be whittled down to a shortlist for each of the six categories before the judges visit those shortlisted at their workplace and make a decision prior to 1st March. The NASS Special Merit Award shall be judged independently by the NASS Executive Council and entries are to be accepted up until noon on Friday 19th February.
Brough Scott, Chairman of the judging panel, said:
“We have been very encouraged by the number of entries this year for the Stud and Stable Staff Awards. We made a concerted effort to make the nomination process more appealing, with anyone from the industry in the position to nominate and this has been reflected by the increase in the number of entries. All the nominees deserve high recognition for the work they do and the Awards are in place to not only reward individuals, but also the yards.”
Of the six categories, each category winner will receive £5,000 and the runners-up £2,000, apart from the new NASS category where £5,000 is pledged to one winner only in special recognition of their efforts. Category winners, excluding the winner of the Newcomer Award, then go forward for the overall Stud and Stable Staff Employee of the Year Award, boasting a grand prize of £25,000 to be split between winner and yard, together with The Godolphin Trophy, a memento of their success.
Crucially an identical amount to category winners and runners-up will also be given to the yards where they work to be shared among the rest of the staff. The NASS Special Merit Award will not include a yard contribution as it is very much focused on the individual winner’s achievements.
For further information or imagery, please contact Amy Sherman, BHA Promotions Manager, on 020 7152 0115 or Kelly Barnes, BHA Promotions Assistant, on 020 7152 0164
