Nominations open until
10 award categories with over €80,000 prizemoney
Nominations are now
open for the 2019 Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards and can be made
online at www.studandstablestaffawards.ie. The awards encompass 10 categories
which carry prizemoney of over €80,000. 2019 marks the fifth year of
Godolphin’s sponsorship of the Irish Stud and Stable Staff Awards which will
take place at The Curragh Racecourse on Tuesday October 29.
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.
Sandra Hughes, Godolphin’s Irish Stud and Stable Staff Awards Ambassador will
be visiting racing yards and stud farms and attending race meetings and
bloodstock sales to encourage as many nominations as possible. In addition to
nominating online, every trainer, breeder and point-to-point handler will
receive a nomination form. Nomination forms are also available from Horse
Racing Ireland’s Head Office at Ballymany, Newbridge, County Kildare. 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 www.studandstablestaffawards.ie
Nominations are open until Monday June 24 and must be completed online or
returned to the Marketing Department in Horse Racing Ireland by 5pm that day.
Joe Osborne, Managing Director, Godolphin Ireland, said: “Godolphin is
delighted to sponsor the Irish awards for the fifth year. The Godolphin Stud
and Stable Staff Awards showcase the skills, experience and dedication of the
hardworking men and women in our industry.”
Bernard Caldwell, Irish Stablestaff Association Chairman, said: “The Irish
Stablestaff Association is very grateful to Godolphin for their continued
commitment to our stud and stable staff. The awards are a brilliant platform to
acknowledge and reward all our dedicated staff working around the country.
I would encourage all trainers, breeders, owners and managers to nominate
their colleagues by Monday June 24”.
TEN AWARD CATEGORIES
1. RACECOURSE AWARD
The Racecourse Award will be chosen by the Irish Stablestaff Association based
on a quality programme evaluation. The survey evaluates each racecourse on a
range of criteria relating to facilities available to stable employees. The
racecourse with the highest score will be selected as the recipient of the
Godolphin Stud & 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 non-administrative, support service
role within the thoroughbred racing and breeding sectors. This includes, but is
not limited to, veterinary practices, farriers, horse transport, grounds staff
in sales companies or racecourses, horse dentists and physiotherapists.
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
Prize: Trophy and €4,000 to the winner. The other two finalists will each
receive €1,000.
3. ADMINISTRATION AWARD
An award to an individual who works in an administration role within the
thoroughbred racing and breeding sectors. This includes, but is not limited to,
racing yard and stud farm secretaries, racecourse administration staff,
veterinary practice secretaries, sales companies, Horse Racing Ireland, Irish
Horseracing Regulatory Board, any other racing/breeding administration bodies.
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
Prize: Trophy and €4,000 to the winner and €2,000 to the winner’s organisation
to be divided amongst employees.
The other two finalists and their organisations will each receive €1,000.
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 Monday February
18th, 2019 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
Prize: Trophy and €2,500 to the winner and €1,000 to the winner’s yard/stud to
be divided amongst yard/stud employees. The other two finalists will each
receive €500. The Newcomer Award winner will also receive a five day
educational tour to Dubai with flights and accommodation included.
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 and 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
Prize: Trophy and €4,000 to the winner and €2,000 to the winner’s yard/stud to
be divided amongst yard/stud employees. The other two finalists and their
yards/studs will each receive €1,000.
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:
• Works 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
Prize: Trophy and €4,000 to the winner and €2,000 to the winner’s yard/stud to
be divided amongst yard/stud employees. The other two finalists and their
yards/studs will each receive €1,000.
7. LEADERSHIP AWARD (STUD EMPLOYEES)
An award to an individual in a supervisory or managerial role in a thoroughbred
stud farm who has displayed leadership and team spirit, shown talent for
horsemanship, consistency and reliability (examples include: head stallion
staff, barn managers, etc.).
Qualities:
• Observant and intuitive in relation to horse care and welfare
• 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
• High standard of management skills including organisation and communication
• 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
• Examples of contribution to employer’s success
Prize: Trophy and €4,000 to the winner and €2,000 to the winner’s stud to be
divided amongst stud employees. The other two finalists and their studs will
each receive €1,000.
8. LEADERSHIP AWARD (STABLE EMPLOYEES)
An award to an individual in a supervisory or managerial role in a thoroughbred
racing yard who sets and maintains high standards of horsemanship, people
management, communication skills and attention to detail (examples include:
head lads, head girls, travelling head staff, etc.).
Qualities:
• Observant and intuitive in relation to horse care and welfare
• 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
• High standard of management skills including organisation and communication
• Examples of positive influences on an individual’s and/or a team’s
performance
• 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
Prize: Trophy and €4,000 to the winner and €2,000 to the winner’s yard to be
divided amongst yard employees. The other two finalists and their yards will
each receive €1,000.
9. DEDICATION TO RACING AND BREEDING AWARD
An award for an individual who has worked for a minimum of 20 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 or has played a pivotal role in their
employer’s success
Prize: Trophy and €4,000 to the winner and €2,000 to the winner’s yard/stud to
be divided amongst yard/stud employees. The other two finalists and their
yards/studs will each receive €1,000.
10. IRISH RACING EXCELLENCE AWARD
Will be presented to one of the winners of the Administration, Horse Care, In
the Saddle, Leadership (Stud), Leadership (Stable) 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 organisation
to be divided amongst employees.
