Despite all this rain somehow Punchestown goes ahead today (Wednesday). This is the meeting moved from last Monday so that Leopardstown could have that public holiday slot.

However, one change to today’s schedule is that the Up The Yard Challenge Race for stud and stable staff has been put back to Punchestown’s meeting on Sunday, February 15th. So that’s another two weeks of weight-watching and nerves for the 16 riders set to take part in their first race. Well done to Punchestown for putting it on and ensuring the participants have a good-sized audience for their big day.

The incessant rainfall has made it a very trying few weeks for those working with horses on a daily basis in this part of the world. Met Eireann says it was the wettest January since 2018 and the coldest January since 2021.

Applying for a similar role in Australia or the Middle East – or leaving the horse business entirely - must have crossed a few minds while exercising or feeding or foaling in this unforgiving weather.

I got a few reminders of the efforts being put in constantly by these hands-on men and women while on the road a few times recently.

Stallion Trail

First there was the ITM Irish Stallion Trail in mid-January. I visited five studs in the Fermoy area and I was given a warm welcome at all of them. All participating studs reported great footfall and stud grooms (and stallions!) were on the go for hours. The covering season is about to start and, for those involved, it’s very demanding and skilled work which can be dangerous.

The ITBA National Breeding & Racing Awards a couple of weeks ago were a far more glamorous affair, though many of those honoured on the night are well used to long, tiring days handling mares and foals, with no guarantee that their efforts will bear any rewards.

One of the most popular award winners was Sandra Russell from Bansha, Co Tipperary. She offers a foaling service for local breeders and has no more than five mares herself. In 2019 she sent a €14,000 mare to a €5,000 stallion and bred a Grade 1 winner.

“When it happens, everyone is thrilled for you because they know how hard it is for that to happen,” she said. “That was my first and maybe the only Grade 1 winner that I’ll ever have, because they don’t come around that often.”

CAFRE students

Sandra sourced her mares at the Goffs November Sale and that’s also where Equine Management students from the College of Agriculture Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) sold a foal for €80,000 a few months ago.

I visited the CAFRE campus at Enniskillen last week and met some of the students who are involved in both the racing unit and foal unit at the college. Many of them have their own horses at home and, while in college, they’re putting in the hours and getting invaluable practical experience and guidance which will stand to them.

In between those events I was also invited to the launch of the Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards [ITIEA] at Kildangan Stud. Backed by Godolphin for the past 10 years, these awards are for people working in any hands-on role in the racing or stud sectors of the Irish thoroughbred industry. This includes, but is not limited to, racing stables, stud farms, spelling and pre-training yards and veterinary practices. It is open to people who are currently working in the industry and have worked in it for a minimum of five years.

€60,000 Awards

Even though there is €60,000 in prizes on offer, incredibly these awards do not always attract a big number of nominations. So I am asking you today if you could take a moment to think of someone who fits the criteria above and deserves wider recognition. When you have someone in mind click HERE and put their name forward for an award.

It will only take you two minutes. You won’t be asked to come up with reasons why your nominee deserves to win. Just some basic details are all that’s required. The organisers have commissioned a recruitment firm to do all the rest, so that every nominee gets the same attention.

The deadline for making a nomination is Friday week, February 13th but why delay?

These industry employees are the backbone of our sport. They deserve more than our thanks, they deserve recognition of their expertise, dedication and sheer hard work. Without them, there is no industry at all. Let them know you think so too.