Stud and stable staff honoured - Ten Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Award Winners Announced - Owen Smyth Wins Irish Racing Excellence Award In the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny on Tuesday evening, May 9th, Owen Smyth, Head Stallion Man at Kildangan Stud was announced as the Irish Racing Excellence Award winner — taking the top honour at the 2017 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards. Owen, who also won the Leads by Example Award, was selected by the judges for the highest accolade from among seven individual category winners, who were also revealed at the awards ceremony. Originally from Crumlin in Dublin and a graduate of RACE (Racing Academy and Centre of Education), Owen has worked in the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry since 1983. He has been employed at Kildangan Stud since 1988, having previously worked for Dermot Weld and spent a breeding season in Kentucky. A total of ten awards, worth €80,000 were presented by Kilkenny Senior Hurling Manager, Brian Cody. Richard Forristal, Editor of the Racing Post in Ireland, acted as MC for the occasion. The 10 winners and runners-up for the 2017 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards are: Irish Racing Excellence Award Owen Smyth, Head Stallion Man, Kildangan Stud, County Kildare Administration Award Catherine McAvinney, Practice Manager, Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital, Kildare Runners-up: Tom Gallagher, Stud Office Manager, Kildangan Stud, County Kildare Zoe Winston, Racing Secretary, Gordon Elliott, County Meath Newcomer Award Sarah McCrory, Head Girl, Ted Walsh, County Kildare Runners-up: Mark Byrne, Marketing and Nominations, Ballylinch Stud, County Kilkenny Patrick Murray, Stable Groom, Dermot Weld, County Kildare Horse Care Award Elaine O’Donovan, Head Girl, Eoin Griffin, County Kilkenny Runners-up: Ashley Hussey, Stable Girl, Jessica Harrington, County Kildare Joe Behan, Groom, Derrinstown Stud, County Kildare In The Saddle Award Adrian Taylor, Assistant Trainer, Jim Bolger, County Carlow Runners-up: Brendan Hoare, Stud Groom, Coolmore Stud, County Tipperary Derek McCormack, Work Rider/Assistant Head Man, Rathbride Yard, Dermot Weld, County Kildare Travelling Head Person Award Patrick O’Brien, Travelling Head Man, Dermot Weld, County Kildare Runners-up: Camilla Sharples, Travelling Head Girl, Gordon Elliott, County Meath Hazel Wallace, Travelling Head Person, Tracey Collins, County Kildare Leads by Example Award Owen Smyth, Head Stallion Man, Kildangan Stud, County Kildare Runners-up: Joseph Mulholland, Head Man, Rathbride Yard, Dermot Weld, County Kildare Robert Hennessy, Head Man, Sandra Hughes, County Kildare Dedication to Racing and Breeding Award Tommy Woods, Travelling Head Lad, Paul Nolan, County Wexford Runners up: Robert Gallagher, Head Man, Michael Halford, County Kildare Tony Coyle, Stud Manager, Yeomanstown Lodge, County Kildare Racing and Breeding Support Services Award James Flanagan, Farrier for Jim Dreaper, County Meath Racecourse Award Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare Among the attendees were RT Hon Sir Hugh Robertson, Chairman of the British Olympic Association and former British Minister for Sport and the Olympics, responsible for the delivery of London 2012, Joe Osborne, Managing Director of Godolphin Ireland, Brian Kavanagh, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, and Bernard Caldwell, Chairman of the Irish Stablestaff Association. Jockeys Katie Walsh, Kevin Manning, Roger Loughran and recently crowned champion amateur jockey Jamie Codd also supported the event. Trainers Jim Bolger, Michael Halford, Jim Dreaper, Tracey Collins, Eoin Griffin, and Sandra Hughes were also in attendance as was Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr Patrick O’Neill. Bernard Caldwell, Chairman of the Irish Stablestaff Association, said: “Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners and finalists. Stud and stable staff play a vital role in Irish racing and breeding so it’s great to see their skills and dedication rewarded. I would like to thank Godolphin for their extremely generous sponsorship, our media partners The Racing Post and Horse Racing Ireland who organised the entire event.” Joe Osborne, Managing Director of Godolphin in Ireland, said: “Tonight's awards again showcased the dedication and talent which make this a great industry. We know that the horse business is a people business and Godolphin is honoured to sponsor an event which gives great people deserved recognition." - - Awards Info Godolphin, the global thoroughbred breeding and horseracing team 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 Britain, France, Australia and the USA. The Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards Judging Committee are made up of representatives of the Irish Stablestaff Association, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, the Turf Club and Horse Racing Ireland. Jimmy (Slim) O’Neill, winner of the Irish Racing Excellence Award at the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards in 2016, also joined the judging committee for the 2017 awards, alongside 2015 winner Pat O’Donovan. The winners of the Administration, Horse Care, In The Saddle, Travelling Head Person, Leads by Example and Dedication to Racing and Breeding awards received a trophy and €5,000 with an additional €3,000 for employees from the winner’s yard, stud or company. The two runners-up in these categories each received €1,000. Owen Smyth, winner of the Irish Racing Excellence Award, received an additional €5,000 and €5,000 for employees in Kildangan Stud where he is head stallion man. The winners of the Racecourse Award, and Racing and Breeding Support Services Award received a specially-commissioned trophy and €2,500. Sarah McCrory, winner of the Newcomer Award received a trophy and €2,500, plus a five-day educational tour to Dubai with flights and accommodation included. The Racecourse Award was 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 Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, with a total prize-fund of €80,000, is managed by Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish Stable Staff Association (ISA), in association with media partner the Racing Post. The trophies, by Kilkenny-based sculptor Ani Mollereau, are a contemporary design of a thoroughbred horse representing the spirit of the horse racing industry.
