- Nominations open on Wednesday 6 July 2016
- Nominations close on Wednesday 16 November 2016
- Nominate online at stage.britishhorseracing.com/stablestaff
Nominations open today, Wednesday 6 July, for the 2017 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards. The Awards, now in their 13th year, recognise and reward the outstanding skills, commitment and contribution of racing鈥檚 6,000 stud and stable staff.
The Awards, sponsored by Godolphin and run by the British Horseracing Authority in association with the Racing Post, offer more than 拢120,000 in prize money, with up to 拢40,000 available to a single yard or stud. The prizes will be presented in front of an invited audience on the evening of Monday 20 February 2017 at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in Knightsbridge, London.
Hugh Anderson, Managing Director of Godolphin (UK and Dubai), said:
鈥淲ith the full support of of His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Godolphin is again delighted to sponsor these prestigious awards, which have become a firm part of the racing calendar as a showcase for the hard work and commitment of British racing鈥檚 stud and stable staff. We鈥檙e opening nominations earlier this year to allow more time for colleagues, owners, trainers, breeders and yard managers to nominate staff and thereby recognise the fantastic contribution of those who are the backbone of this great industry.鈥�
As well as recognising and rewarding stud and stable staff, the awards are a great advertisement for racing as whole, highlighting some of the very best things about our sport 鈥揳 great place to work and an industry that looks after its horses and its people. The 鈥楻ory MacDonald Community Award鈥� recognises the contribution from people to benefit the wider community. To find out more about Racing鈥檚 work in the community visit our Racing Together webpage.
William Haggas, whose employee Claire Goodenough won last year鈥檚 Dedication to Racing Award, said:
鈥淭he awards are a fabulous way for us to show appreciation of the people who work so hard behind the scenes. It is a staggeringly generous donation from Godolphin and, in particular, Sheikh Mohammed, who has always shown a keen interest in the future of young people and is well known for encouraging people to strive for the best. Sheikh Mohammed invented these awards and sponsors them extremely generously and his contribution to Racing remains unparalleled. In my opinion, this is some of the best money he ever spends on our industry.鈥�
鈥淐laire was a deserving recipient of the 鈥淒edication To Racing鈥� award last year and it has certainly changed her life. She feels that she has been rewarded for all the hard work she has put in over the years and has hugely appreciated the volume of people from all over the country who have recognised her efforts. She hasn鈥檛 changed at all in character and in her way of life but the Godolphin Awards recognised her efforts and that in itself is a huge boost to her personally and to us as a team.鈥�
Godolphin are again offering an additional prize to the winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award to complement the 拢2,000 prize money for the winner and 拢2,000 for their yard. The winner will benefit from a five-day educational trip to Dubai to learn more about the country鈥檚 racing, culture and custom, including return flights and five nights鈥� accommodation in a five-star hotel.
Last year鈥檚 winner, Laura Winstanley said about her forthcoming trip:
鈥淒ubai is somewhere I鈥檝e always wished I could visit. It鈥檚 been my dream since before I went to the Racing School to be able to travel and see how racehorses are trained differently around the world. This is what I love about our industry, that good horsemanship translates in every country. I know that when I return I will have seen some of the best trainers and horses in the world and I am so grateful to Godolphin and the BHA for this opportunity. I hope that I will be able to continue to use everything I will learn in Dubai when I return to my job in Newmarket.鈥�
Nominations are now open for owners, trainers, breeders, colleagues and managers to show their appreciation for hard-working members of staff.
The nomination process is very simple and is available to trainers online via the Racing Administration website.
Nominations can be completed online via: stage.britishhorseracing.com/stablestaff
Nomination forms can also be downloaded at stage.britishhorseracing.com/stablestaff and via and submitted by post, or simply text AWARDS to 07469145150 and a member of our team will send a form to you.
Notes to editors:
1. The categories are: Leadership Award, Dedication Award, Rider/Groom Award, Stud Staff, Rory MacDonald Community Award, David Nicholson Newcomer Award. (NB This year the David Nicholson Newcomer Award is for people who entered racing within the last three years)
2. The 鈥楻ory MacDonald Community Award鈥� acknowledges 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.
3. The winner of each of the first four categories will receive a prize of 拢5,000 with an additional 拢5,000 also being awarded to the winner鈥檚 yard or stud. Two runners-up in each of these categories will win 拢2,000 each, with the same amount going to their yard or stud.
The winner of the Rory MacDonald Community Award will receive 拢5,000, with the same going to a charity of their choice. The two runners-up will receive 拢2,000, with the same going to a charity of their choice.
The winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award will receive 拢2,000, with the same amount going to their yard or stud, while two runners-up will receive 拢1,000 each, with the same amount for their yard. There is an additional prize for the winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award, which includes return flights, a five day educational tour of Dubai together with five nights鈥� accommodation in a five-star hotel.
The Awards will also recognise an Employee of the Year, who will be selected from the winners of the first four categories. That winner will receive an additional prize of 拢15,000, with the same amount going to their yard or stud.
