Now in their sixth year of operation, the popular Stud and Stable Staff Awards are an annual event supported by Godolphin to recognize and reward the hard work and dedication of stud and stable staff across Australia.
The awards are open to anyone in the industry that wishes to nominate another person within an organization.
For example, a stable hand could nominate a strapper and vice versa and someone in administration may nominate someone in the yard.
Once nominated, a judging panel decides on the finalists and they all attend an awards night on the Gold Coast in May.
The prize money is considerable with $10,000 offered per category, with an additional $3,000 to share amongst staff.
No better example of the inspirational value of the Awards is that of Group I trainer Mark Newnham, the inaugural winner of the overall Thoroughbred Excellence Award.
Mark started off as a 15-year-old strapper with trainer Bob Thomsen, he went on to work as a travelling foreman for Bart Cummings and later played a key role in the success of three Golden Slipper winners as part of the Tulloch Lodge operation of Gai Waterhouse.
Newnham was nominated for the Awards in 2015 as a stable manager for Waterhouse taking out the Dedication to Racing category and the Thoroughbred Excellence Award.
By the time the Award was presented he’d been granted a trainer’s licence and he used the Awards prizemoney he received to help buy one of his first horses.
Newnham is now a trainer on the move, having prepared 16 Stakes winners, including three at Group I level including last Saturday’s Group I ATC Randwick Guineas winner Shadow Hero.
“I can honestly say that the lift the Stud and Stable Staff Awards provided me personally and the help they gave my career make them one of the best things that has ever happened to me,” Newnham said.
“They were something racing badly needed and they’ve lived up to everything they set out to do.”
Nominations are currently open and can be lodged at https://www.studandstablestaffawards.com.au with final entries taken this Friday, March 13
The awards cover seven categories:
1/Leadership Award (Stud or Stable)
2/Horsemanship Award (Stud or Stable)
3/Dedication to Breeding Award
4/Dedication to Racing Award
5/Administration and Ancillary Services Award (Stud or Stable)
6/Thoroughbred Care and Welfare Award
7/Newcomer ($5,000 prize + trip to Dubai)
Overall award:
Thoroughbred Excellence Award - Overall Award (Stud or Stable Only)
On top of the $10,000 already, the person wins an additional $5,000 and an another $2,000 to share amongst staff
