THE most memorable moment of the night was undoubtedly the presentation of the Wild Geese Award to David and Ann Hanley.

This award goes to an Irish person or couple who have achieved success abroad, inspiring and helping others along the way.

Originally from Mayo and with a show jumping background, David Hanley was a successful breeder and trainer in this country before he and his family moved to Kentucky in 2001 to expand their bloodstock interests. They were following in the hoofprints of the Grade 1 winner Golden Apples, who David co-bred and trained to win before she was sold to race in the US where she became a turf champion.

In Kentucky, David had a number of other Grade 1 winners through his hands and in 2012 he joined WinStar Farm, one of America’s top racing and breeding operations. Remarkably he was promoted to general manager within a year.

Since then, David has been involved in sourcing champions such as Triple Crown winner Justify and Life Is Good for the WinStar team.

Video tributes

Glowing video tributes were paid to his horsemanship skills by Mike Ryan, Jacqueline Downes, Tom Ryan, Tony Lacy, Olive Gallagher, James Egan, and WinStar’s Kenny Troutt and Elliott Walden.

Away from the track, Ann Hanley has achieved great things herself, raising $4 million for research into Parkinson’s Disease, a condition she has lived with for 16 years. Ann’s story and positive outlook on life left a lump in everyone’s throat last Saturday night.

Taking to the stage, Ann said: “This award is very special to us both. So many people helped us along the way. On my journey, I want to mention Jim and Geraldine Ryan – you helped me in the early stages. Coolmore and Goffs also helped to kick off the fund and from there it soared.

“We continue to fund research at the University of Kentucky where they can implant nerve graphs into the brain. We have funded over 75 people who have had brain surgery and I am one of the lucky recipients. I am 16 years into my diagnosis. I was told I would only have a 10-year lifespan. But I am here today, testament to the help I have had along the way.

“I love to help newly-diagnosed patients. I am help to give them a hand because I walk in their shoes and let them realise there is life after Parkinson’s.”

David said he was “the luckiest man alive” to be married to Ann, and he said the award meant a lot to him, coming from Irish breeders “who I hold in the highest regard.”