The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is delighted to confirm that 220 nominations – a record number – have been received for the 2016 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards. Nominations for the Awards, which take place on 22 February in London, streamed in from yards and studs of all sizes across the country with trainers, stud managers, owners and colleagues eager to recognise the outstanding work and dedication of stud and stable staff.
Brough Scott, Chairman of the Judging Panel said:
“Having record nominations is a really nice bit of Christmas news for it recognizes the work that stud and stable staff do every day, never more than at this time of year. Horses still need to be looked after on holidays and over Christmas and the dedication and care shown by the people now nominated is wonderfully inspiring. Judging between them is one of the most deliciously difficult privileges around and I feel lucky to be doing it.”
The winners and runners-up will be announced at an evening ceremony, hosted by Clare Balding and with guest presenter AP McCoy at the Jumeirah Carlton Towers Hotel, Knightsbridge. We are pleased to confirm that this year’s ceremony will be bigger than ever, with all finalists able to invite a full table of guests to share in their success.
All of the 220 nominations have been verified and the 12-strong Judging Panel are currently assessing them. This year the panel includes last year’s Employee of the Year, Jess Fortt and Tabbi Smith, the Training Director at the National Stud.
At the end of the first judging stage a shortlist of 10 nominees for each category will be announced at the beginning of January. The second judging stage requires judges to reduce the list of 10 down to three finalists for each category.
The three finalists in each category will then be invited to meet with the judges in London on 22 February, when the winners to be decided. The Employee of the Year will be selected from the winners of the Leadership Award; Dedication to Racing Award; Stud Staff Award; and Rider/Groom and will receive £15,000 in prize money, with the same amount awarded to their yard.
Notes to editors:
1. The Awards are generously sponsored by Godolphin and run by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) with support from the Racing Post.
2. The categories are: Dedication to Racing Award, Leadership Award, Rider/Groom Award, Stud Staff Award, David Nicholson Newcomer Award, and Rory MacDonald Racing Community Award.
The winner of each of the first four categories will receive a prize of £5,000 with an additional £5,000 also being awarded to the winner’s yard or stud. Two runners-up in the first four categories will win £2,000 each, with the same amount going to their year or stud. The winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award will receive £2,000 and a trip to Dubai, with the same amount going to their yard or stud, while two runners-up will receive £1,000 each, with the same amount for their yard. The winner of the Rory MacDonald Racing Community will win £5,000 with the same amount going a charity of their choice and the two runners-up will receive £2,000, with the same going to charity of their choice.
3. This year sees the launch of the ‘Racing Community’ Award, which will acknowledge those who support the stud and stable staff or have made an outstanding contribution to benefit the wider racing community. The Awards provide an opportunity for the racing industry to highlight and thank the hard work put in by stud and stable staff across the country, and this award in particular acknowledges people who have had a positive impact on their community. For more details about the Award please see: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/new-category-added-for-the-2016-godolphin-stud-and-stable-staff-awards/
To find out more about Racing’s work in the community visit our Racing Together webpage: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/bha/grassroots/racing-together/
4. Also new this year is an additional prize to the winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award, of a five-day educational trip to Dubai to learn more about the country’s racing, culture and customs. For more details about this prize please see:
https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/nominations-now-open-for-the-2016-godolphin-stud-and-stable-staff-awards/
