From stable workers to exercise riders, to float drivers, to secretaries, to stud grooms, to foaling supervisors, to the growing band of “re-homers” who provide care and a future to horses who can no longer race, the GSSSA’s are open to everyone.

In so many cases, the industry workers who the Awards seek to recognise, perform their jobs simply because they love horses.

As the 2018 Thoroughbred Excellence Award winner, the trackwork rider, Joe Agresta says: “You couldn’t do it if you didn’t love them.”

“None of us does it for money, because there isn’t any. We do it because we love horses, love being with them, love looking after them.”

Jenny Watson, whose 35 years on the night watch looking out for mares to deliver their foals, at Armidale Stud in Tasmania earned her the Thoroughbred Excellence Award in 2016.

“I still think this is the best job in the world,” Watson says.

“To see a mare and a foal survive just because you are there is the most wonderful thing.”

To find the most deserving recipients, the GSSSA relies on anyone being able to nominate anyone.

It isn’t necessary for a nomination to come from a boss or someone more senior than the nominee. You can propose someone on the same level as yourself, someone more senior, or more junior, someone from within your own organisation or from another.

Nominations will close on Monday, 1 July, 2019, and can be completed online via the Stud and Stable Staff Awards website www.studandstablestaffawards.com.au.

The GSSSA’s provide total prize money of $100,000 in seven categories plus an overall Thoroughbred Excellence Award made to the one of the five category winners.

The awards for the categories include $10,000 and a trophy, with $3,000 to their employer to be shared among fellow employees.

Tom Reilly, CEO of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association said: “These awards celebrate the most deserving people in the thoroughbred industry; the workers whose energy, endeavour, passion and resilience keep breeding and racing going all year around.”

“To trainers, breeders, business owners and administrators, I would encourage you to think of the people who are most deserving of recognition and nominate them. The finalists and award winners, not to mention their employers, get a huge thrill from being involved on the night that it is well worth making the effort of an entry.”

Greg Nichols, Chairman of Racing Australia said: “The Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, now in its 5^th year, are a wonderful recognition and reward for the outstanding skills, commitment and contribution by the unsung heroes of our sport to the unparalleled success of Australian horseracing that is enjoyed today.”

“Racing Australia is greatly appreciative of the generous and unstinting commitment by Godolphin in establishing these awards and continuing its support culminating in the Stud and Stable Staff Awards being regarded as a pinnacle achievement within Australian thoroughbred horse racing.”

“We encourage our vast band of breeders, trainers, owners and racing management to participate by nominating those individuals who represent excellence in their chosen field of expertise.”

For further information please go to studandstablestaffawards.com.au.

– Ends –

For further information please contact:

Barry O’Farrell
Chief Executive Officer, Racing Australia
Telephone: +61 2 8072 1900
Email: racingaustralia@racingaustralia.horse

Tom Reilly
Chief Executive Officer, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia
Telephone: +61 2 9663 8581
Email: tom@tbaus.com

Fran Khan
Public Affairs, Godolphin
Telephone: +61 2 6543 9038
Email: fkhan@godolphin.com

About Racing Australia:

Racing Australia is the peak national body formed by, and representing, the Principal Racing Authorities in each Australian State and Territory.

Amongst other matters, Racing Australia is responsible for administering the Australian Rules of Racing, the integrity of thoroughbred breeding in Australia through the Australian Stud Book, and maintaining the ownership and identity information of thoroughbred racehorses either racing in Australia or for export through the Registrar of Racehorses.”

About Thoroughbred Breeders Australia: Thoroughbred Breeders Australia TBA is the parent company of the six State breeders’ associations and has an associate membership base of more than 4,200 individual breeders and industry participants. TBA is a not-for-profit industry body established for the benefit of the Thoroughbred breeding industry. TBA is comprised of a Board of 14 directors constituted by two representative members from each of the 6 state breeders’ associations and Aushorse Ltd.

TBA takes a leadership role on issues of national and international importance such as quarantine, biosecurity, animal welfare, taxation, immigration and other government and regulatory issues. It represents the interests of breeders in dealing with the Stud Book, The Australian Racing Board and race clubs in addition to other stakeholder organizations.

About Godolphin:

Godolphin was founded in 1992 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Named in honour of the Godolphin Arabian, one of the three founding stallions of the modern thoroughbred born in the Arabian Gulf, what started with a handful of horses in the desert has evolved into the foremost international horseracing stable.

Racing in the famous Royal Blue silks, Godolphin strives for excellence, winning many of the world’s major races along the way. To date, Godolphin has won over 300 Group One races in 12 different countries, across four continents. For further information, please visit: www.godolphin.com.

 
Members of the Judging Panel:

• Johan Petzer (Chair), Chief of Stewards TRSA (SA)
• Basil Nolan, President of TBA and stud owner (QLD)
• Melissa Weatherly, Racing Victoria (VIC)
• Caroline Searcy, Searcy Media (NSW)
• Chris Watson, Director TBA and stud owner (SA)
• Troy Corstens, Thoroughbred Trainer (VIC)
• Peter Heagney, (VIC)
• Jenny Watson, 2016 Thoroughbred Excellence Winner (TAS)
• Jeremy Rogers, 2017 Thoroughbred Excellence Award Winner (VIC)
• Joe Agresta, 2018 Thoroughbred Excellent Award Winner (VIC)

Categories of Awards and Prize money:

1. Leadership Award (Stud or Stable)

An award to an individual staff member in a managerial or supervisory role in a stud or stable who has displayed leadership qualities – in particular in terms of quality people management, mentoring and support of staff, attention to workplace health and safety, commitment to continuous improvement and displaying good business acumen.

Prize: Trophy and $10,000 to winner with $3,000 to employer to share amongst staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.

2. Horsemanship Award (Stud or Stable)

An award to an individual staff member who has shown talent for horsemanship, consistency and reliability in or out of the saddle. Must include an affinity with horses and gives a priority to animal welfare. Must demonstrate a degree of success with the thoroughbred, whether it be in breeding or racing or both, that has been borne out of their particular skill set.

Prize: Trophy and $10,000 to winner with $3,000 to employer to share amongst staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.

3. Dedication to Breeding Award

An award to an individual staff member who has shown talent in thoroughbred breeding horsemanship, consistency and reliability in a stud role. Must have at least five years service in the breeding industry and must have been pivotal in his or her employer’s success.

Prize: Trophy and $10,000 to winner with $3,000 to employer to share amongst staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.

4. Dedication to Racing Award

An award to an individual staff member who has shown talent for horsemanship in the racing field, consistency and reliability in racing role. Must have at least five years service in the racing industry and must have been pivotal in his or her employer’s success.

Prize: Trophy and $10,000 to winner with $3,000 to employer to share amongst staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.

5. Administrative and Ancillary Services Award (Stud or Stable)

An award to an individual staff member who works in an administration role in a stud or racing yard or services ancillary to racing or breeding (such as Race Club administrators and staff, stud or stable administration staff, farm, garden and maintenance staff). Must demonstrate exceptional skills, loyalty or some achievement that has added value to their employer’s business, and directly or indirectly to industry standards.

Prize: Trophy and $10,000 to winner with $3,000 to employer to share amongst staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.

6. Thoroughbred Care and Welfare Award

An award to an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to the care and welfare of thoroughbreds who are not actively racing, and/or created a greater awareness, passion and care for the thoroughbred horse in its second/ alternate career (breeding, breaking, pre and post racing career, re-homing, retraining, providing a comfortable retirement etc.). These may be, for example, a quite achiever/paid or volunteer in retraining or re-homing of the thoroughbred. (This winner will not be eligible for the Thoroughbred Excellence Award).

Prize: Trophy and $10,000 to winner with $3,000 to employer to share amongst staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.

7. Newcomer Award (Stud or Stable)

An award to an individual who has worked in the industry, in any capacity, for less than three years. Winner will display passion for, pride in and an excellent contribution to, the thoroughbred industry. The winner will stand out from other newcomers and will be identified as a future and significant valuable member of this industry. (This winner will not be eligible for the Thoroughbred Excellence Award)

Prize: Trophy, $5,000 to winner with $3000 to employer to share amongst staff. $1000 to the runner-up.

8. Thoroughbred Excellence Award – Overall Award (Stud or Stable Only)

Winner to be selected from one of the five categories (i.e. excludes Thoroughbred Care and Welfare Award and Newcomer Award). Must have made a significant, exceptional contribution to the industry.

Prize: Trophy and an additional $5,000 to the winner with an additional $2,000 to the winner’s yard/stud to be divided amongst stable/stud employees.