Ten Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards Winners Announced

Pat Farrell, Stud Groom at Moyglare Stud in Maynooth, County Kildare was announced as the Irish Racing Excellence Award winner, taking the top honour at the 2018 Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, held at the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, County Meath on Monday evening, May 21.
 
Pat, who also won the Dedication to Racing Award, was selected by the 12 members of the judging committee for the highest accolade from among eight individual category winners, who were also revealed at the awards ceremony.
 
From County Kildare and known for his affinity with horses, Pat has worked for Moyglare Stud for the last 45 years, only 11 years less than the stud’s foundation. In that time, there is little of the people, land, bloodlines and success that Pat has not been part of. Pat has foaled, handled, broken or ridden some great horses in his long career, including all the Irish-bred Moyglare Group 1 winners.
 
A total of ten awards, worth €84,000 were presented by former All-Ireland footballer for Meath and RTÉ GAA analyst, Colm O’Rourke. Richard Forristal, Editor of the Racing Post in Ireland, acted as MC for the occasion.
 
The 10 winners and runners-up for the 2018 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards are:
 
Irish Racing Excellence Award
Pat Farrell, Stud Groom, Moyglare Stud, County Kildare
 
Administration Award
Gillian Carey, Operations Manager, Fairyhouse Racecourse, County Meath
 
Runners-up:
Denis Hickey, Racing Secretary, Ballydoyle, County Tipperary
Vicki McWey, Supervisor Registrations Department, Horse Racing Ireland, County Kildare
 
Newcomer Award
Georgie Benson, Stable Lass, Gordon Elliott, County Meath
 
Runners-up:
Joanne Eaton, Stable Lass, Willie McCreery, County Kildare
Charlie Sweeney, Pupil Assistant/Second Head Lad, Eyrefield House Stud, County Kildare
 
Horse Care Award
Mary Nugent, Travelling Assistant, Gordon Elliott, County Meath
 
Runners-up:
Emma Connolly, Travelling Head Lass / Assistant Trainer, Noel Meade, County Meath
Sinead O'Sullivan, Head Girl, John Murphy, County Cork
 
In The Saddle Award
James Rath, Head Lad, Liz Doyle, County Wexford
 
Runners-up:
Audrey O'Neill, Exercise Rider & Groom, John Oxx, County Kildare
Josep Sans Sanchez, Head Man, PJ Prendergast, County Kildare
 
Travelling Head Person Award
Camilla Sharples, Travelling Head Girl, Gordon Elliott, County Meath
 
Runners-up:
Tina Evans, Travelling Head Girl, Joseph O’Brien, County Kilkenny
Jason Forsyth, Travelling Head Person, John Oxx, County Kildare
 
Leads by Example Award
Stephen Thorne, Assistant Trainer, Adrian McGuinness, County Dublin
 
Runners-up:
Tom Daly, Assistant Head Man, Dermot Weld, County Kildare
Valerie Keatley, Head Girl, Johnny Murtagh, County Kildare
 
Dedication to Racing and Breeding Award
Pat Farrell, Stud Groom, Moyglare Stud, County Kildare
 
Runners up:
Eamonn Leigh, Headman, Jessica Harrington, County Kildare
Tommy Ryan, Head Lad, Edward O’Grady, County Tipperary
 
Racing and Breeding Support Services Award
Martin ‘Snowy’ Pearse, Facilities Manager, Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare
 
Runners up:
Martin Leahy, Master Farrier, Bruff, County Limerick 
Sharon O'Regan, Head of Operations, Weatherbys Ireland GSB Ltd, County Kildare
 
Racecourse Award
Fairyhouse Racecourse, Ratoath, County Meath
 
Bernard Caldwell, Chairman of the Irish Stablestaff Association, said: “Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners and finalists. Stud and stable staff play a vital role in Irish racing and breeding so it’s great to see their skills and dedication rewarded. I would like to thank Godolphin for their extremely generous sponsorship, our media partners The Racing Post and Horse Racing Ireland who organised the entire event.”
 
Diana Cooper, Strategic Advisor, Charities, for Godolphin, said: “Godolphin is honoured to sponsor the Irish Stud and Stable Staff Awards which this year received a record number of nominations.  The judging panel had a very difficult task in picking the category winners, each of which emerged from very strong fields.  Congratulations to all and thanks also to their colleagues who nominated them. Tonight's awards showcase the dedication and talent which make this a great industry.”
 
NOTES TO EDITOR:
 
Godolphin, the global thoroughbred breeding and horseracing team 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 Britain, France, Australia and the USA.
 
The Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards Judging Committee are made up of representatives of the Irish Stablestaff Association, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, the Turf Club, Horse Racing Ireland and breeder Olive O’Connor.  Owen Smyth, winner of the 2017 Irish Racing Excellence Award also joined the judging committee for 2018, alongside 2016 winner Jimmy O’Neill and 2015 winner Pat O’Donovan.
 
The winners of the Administration, Horse Care, In The Saddle, Travelling Head Person, Leads by Example, and Dedication to Racing and Breeding awards received a trophy and €5,000 with an additional €3,000 for employees from the winner’s yard, stud or company. The two runners-up in these categories each received €1,000.
 
Pat Farrell, winner of the Irish Racing Excellence Award, received an additional €5,000 and €5,000 for employees in Moyglare Stud where he is stud groom.
 
Fairyhouse, winner of the Racecourse Award, received a specially-commissioned trophy and €2,500 to be spent on upgrades of facilities which will benefit stable employees.
 
Martin ‘Snowy’ Pearse, winner of the Racing and Breeding Support Services Award received a specially commissioned trophy and €5,000 with two runners-up each receiving €1,000.
 
Georgie Benson, winner of the Newcomer Award received a trophy and €2,500, plus a five-day educational tour to Dubai with flights and accommodation included.
 
The Racecourse Award was 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.
 
The Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, with a total prize-fund of €84,000,
is managed by Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish Stable Staff Association (ISA), in association with media partner the Racing Post.
 
The trophies, by Kilkenny-based sculptor Ani Mollereau, are a contemporary design of a thoroughbred horse representing the spirit of the horse racing industry.