Pictured at the launch of the Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards 2018 (L to R): Joe Osborne, Group Chief Executive, Godolphin, recipients of the Irish Racing Excellence Award Pat O'Donovan (2015), Owen Smyth (2017), Jimmy O'Neill (2016), Sandra Hughes, Ambassador for Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, and Michael Mulvihill, Racing Post
The Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards announced former racehorse trainer, Sandra Hughes as their Ambassador for the 2018 awards.
Sandra’s role is to encourage as many nominations as possible during the six-week nomination period. She will be visiting racing yards and stud farms and attending race meetings, bloodstock sales and the ITBA Expo.
Nominations are now open for the 2018 Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards and can be made online at www.studandstablestaffawards.
Godolphin, the global racing stable founded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is the principal sponsor of the Irish Stud and Stable Staff Awards in association with the Irish Stablestaff Association, the Racing Post and Horse Racing Ireland. Godolphin also sponsors the equivalent Stud and Stable Staff Awards in America, Australia, Britain and France.
The 2018 awards will take place in the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, County Meath on Monday, May 21st.
The Racing and Breeding Support Services Award now allows for three finalists, with a trophy and €5,000 for the winner. The two runners-up will each receive €1,000.
In addition to nominating online, every trainer, breeder and point-to-point handler will receive a nomination form by post. Nomination forms are also available from Horse Racing Ireland’s head office in Ballymany in Newbridge. Bernard Caldwell from the Irish Stablestaff Association (ISSA) and his colleagues will be distributing nomination forms at upcoming race meetings. The nomination form is also available to download from the website.
Nominations are open until Monday, February 19th and must be completed online or returned to the Marketing Department in Horse Racing Ireland by 5pm that day.
Diana Cooper, Strategic Advisor, Charities, for Godolphin, said: “Godolphin is delighted that Sandra has agreed to act as Ambassador for this year’s Stud and Stable Staff Awards. Her profile and industry knowledge will help grow the number of nominations and ensure that the hardworking men and women in our industry get the recognition they deserve.”
Bernard Caldwell, Irish Stable Staff Association Chairman, said: “The Irish Stablestaff Association would like to thank Godolphin for the further increase in prizemoney for 2018. It reaffirms Godolphin’s wonderful commitment to our stud and stable staff. Sandra is a great addition to the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards and I’ve no doubt she will be very successful in her role. I would encourage as many trainers, breeders, owners and managers to nominate their colleagues in order to recognise the great employees we have in our industry.”
Commenting on her ambassador role, Sandra Hughes, said: “I am hugely honoured to be appointed by Godolphin as their ambassador for the Irish Stud and Stable Staff Awards and I’m really looking forward to getting out on the road to meet as many trainers and breeders as possible. Godolphin’s incredibly generous sponsorship is a wonderful recognition of all stud and stable staff who are the backbone of the industry.”
TEN AWARD CATEGORIES
1. Racecourse Award
The Racecourse Award will be chosen by the Irish Stable Staff Association based on a quality programme survey with the purpose of setting quality standards for stable staff at all racecourses in Ireland. The racecourse with the highest score will win the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Racecourse Award.
Prize: €2,500 to be spent on upgrades of facilities which will benefit stable employees
2. Racing and Breeding Support Services Award
An award to an individual who works in any support service role within the thoroughbred racing and breeding sectors. This includes, but is not limited to, veterinary practices, farriers, horse transport, sales companies, horse dentists, physiotherapist and racing administration staff. (racecourses, HRI and Turf Club employees)
Qualities:
- Consistently high standards of work
- Positive interactions with stud and racing stable personnel
- Examples of contributing to employer’s and/or client’s success in breeding and/or racing
3. Administration Award
An award to an individual who works in an administration role in the thoroughbred breeding and racing sector.
Qualities:
- High standard of organisational, time-management and communication skills
- Attention to detail and systems/process driven
- Suggests innovations and efficiencies
- Positive interactions in the workplace with a team spirit approach
- Examples of contributing to employer’s success in breeding and/or racing
4. Newcomer Award (Stud and Stable employees)
An award to an individual who has been working in any area of the thoroughbred racing and/or breeding sector for less than five years as of Friday 10th February 2017 and who has shown commitment to and ambition for a career in the industry including a desire to improve and progress their skills and knowledge.
Qualities:
- Enthusiasm and motivation
- Evidence of a desire to improve and progress skills and knowledge
- Team spirit approach in the workplace
- Willingness to learn with examples of involvement in industry events and activities
5. Horse Care Award (stud and stable employees)
An award to an individual working in a thoroughbred racing yard or stud farm who has shown talent for horsemanship, dedication, reliability, team spirit and attention to detail in their care of horses.
Qualities:
- Dedication to horse welfare/rehabilitation in the workplace
- Observant and intuitive with good attention to detail
- Ability to work on own initiative
- Patient and flexible with good communication skills
- Positive influence in the workplace with good team spirit approach
- Consistently observes high standards of health and safety in the workplace
- Examples of working with sick and injured horses
6. In the Saddle Award (stud and stable employees)
An award to an individual working in a thoroughbred racing yard or stud farm who has shown exceptional horsemanship, dedication, team spirit and skill in the saddle such as breaking horses and/or riding-out.
Qualities:
- Work well as part of a team with good communication skills
- Consistently observes high standards of health and safety in the workplace
- Willingness to learn
- Examples of exceptional horsemanship and riding skills
7. Travelling Head Person Award
An award to an individual working as a Travelling Head Lad/Lass who, while representing their employer at the racecourse, sets and maintains high standards of horsemanship; organisational and communication skills and attention to detail.
Qualities:
- Observant and intuitive in relation to horse care and welfare
- High standard of organisational skills and attention to detail
- Works well with a team with good communication skills
- Consistently observes high standards of health and safety in the yard, on the road and at the racecourse
- Examples of contribution to employer’s success
8. Leads by Example Award (stud and stable employees)
An award to an individual in a supervisory or managerial role in a thoroughbred racing yard or stud farm who has displayed leadership, team spirit and positive interpersonal skills.
Qualities:
- High standard of management skills including organisation and communication
- Sets clear goals and cultivates a team-oriented approach to achieve them
- Motivates and mentors fellow employees and is valued as a role model in the workplace
- Consistently observes high standards of health and safety in the workplace
- Examples of positive influences on an individual’s and/or a team’s performance
9. Dedication to Racing and Breeding Award
An award for an individual who has worked for a minimum of twenty years in a full-time position in any area of the thoroughbred breeding and/or racing sectors. Nominees must be currently working in the industry, although persons currently working part-time (minimum 20 hours per week), having previously served 20 years full-time, may be included.
Qualities:
- Commitment, dedication and enthusiasm
- Extensive industry experience
- Consistently observes high standards of health and safety in the workplace
- Examples of how the nominee plays a pivotal role in their employer’s success
10. Irish Racing Excellence Award
Will be presented to one of the winners of the Administration, Newcomer, Horse Care, In the Saddle, Travelling Head Person, Leads by Example and Dedication to Racing and Breeding Awards who is, in the opinion of the judging panel, the most deserving of recognition for their commitment, hard work, and ongoing contribution to the high standards and reputation of the Irish thoroughbred industry.
Prize: Trophy and €5,000 to the winner and €5,000 to the winner’s yard/stud to be divided amongst yard/stud employees.
