OWEN Smyth, winner of the Irish Racing Excellence Award at the 2017 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, will join the judging committee for the 2018 awards on a three-year term. Owen will be joined on the panel by breeder Olive O’Connor.

Head stallion man at Kildangan Stud, Owen has worked in the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry since 1983. Originally from Crumlin in Dublin and a graduate of RACE, he has been employed at Kildangan Stud since 1988. Owen won the top accolade at the 2017 awards and also won the Leads by Example Award.