SANDRA Hughes has been named as ambassador for the 2018 Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards.

The former trainer’s role is to encourage as many nominations as possible during the six-week nomination period. She will be visiting racing yards and stud farms and attending race meetings, bloodstock sales and the ITBA Expo.

The awards encompass 10 categories, which carry total prize money of €84,000, an increase of €4,500 from 2017.

The 2018 awards will take place in the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, Co Meath on Monday, May 21st.

The Racing and Breeding Support Services Award now allows for three finalists, with a trophy and €5,000 for the winner. The two runners-up will each receive €1,000.

In addition to nominating online, every trainer, breeder and point-to-point handler will receive a nomination form by post. Nomination forms are also available from Horse Racing Ireland’s head office in Ballymany in Newbridge.

Bernard Caldwell from the Irish Stable Staff Association (ISSA) and his colleagues will be distributing nomination forms at upcoming race meetings. The nomination form is also available to download from the website.

Nominations are open until Monday, February 19th and must be completed online or returned to the Marketing Department in HRI by 5pm that day.

TEN AWARD CATEGORIES

1. Racecourse Award

The Racecourse Award winner will be 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.

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 support service role within the thoroughbred racing and breeding sectors. This includes, but is not limited to, veterinary practices, farriers, horse transport, sales companies, horse dentists, physiotherapist and racing administration staff (racecourses, HRI and Turf Club employees).

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 €5,000 to the winner. The two runners-up will receive €1,000 each.

    3. Administration Award

    An award to an individual who works in an administration role in the thoroughbred breeding and racing sector.

    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 €5,000 to the winner and €3,000 to the winner’s yard/stud/company to be divided amongst yard/stud/company employees. The two runners-up will receive €1,000 each.

    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 Friday 10th February 2017 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 two runners-up will receive €500 each. The Newcomer Award winner will also receive a five-day educational tour of 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/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 €5,000 to the winner and €3,000 to the winner’s yard/stud to be divided amongst yard/stud employees. The two runners-up will receive €1,000 each.

    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:

  • Work 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 €5,000 to the winner and €3,000 to the winner’s yard/stud to be divided amongst yard/stud employees. The two runners-up will receive €1,000 each.

    7. Travelling Head Person Award

    An award to an individual working as a Travelling Head Lad/Lass who, while representing their employer at the racecourse, sets and maintains high standards of horsemanship; organisational and communication skills and attention to detail.

    Qualities:

  • Observant and intuitive in relation to horse care and welfare
  • High standard of organisational skills and attention to detail
  • Works well with a team with good communication skills
  • 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 €5,000 to the winner and €3,000 to the winner’s yard to be divided amongst yard employees. The two runners-up will receive €1,000 each.

    8. Leads by Example Award (stud and stable employees)

    An award to an individual in a supervisory or managerial role in a thoroughbred racing yard or stud farm who has displayed leadership, team spirit and positive interpersonal skills.

    Qualities:

  • High standard of management skills including organisation and communication
  • Sets clear goals and cultivates a team-oriented approach
  • Motivates and mentors fellow employees and is valued as a role model in the workplace
  • 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

    • Prize: Trophy and €5,000 to the winner and €3,000 to the winner’s yard/stud to be divided amongst yard/stud employees. The two runners-up will receive €1,000 each.

    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 a pivotal role in employer’s success

    • Prize: Trophy and €5,000 to the winner and €3,000 to the winner’s yard/stud to be divided amongst yard/stud employees. The two runners-up will receive €1,000 each.

    10. Irish Racing Excellence Award

    Will be presented to one of the winners of the Administration, Newcomer, Horse Care, In the Saddle, Travelling Head Person, Leads by Example 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 yard/stud to be divided amongst yard/stud employees.

    Web: studandstablestaffawards.ie