The Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards continue to go from strength-to-strength with another record number of nominations received in 2020.

Following last year’s best-ever entry, 165 nominations for the Awards, have flooded in from all over Australia and all areas of the racing, breeding and associated industries.

Established by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Racing Australia, and supported worldwide by Godolphin, the Awards invite anyone from employers to colleagues to friends and family to nominate a deserving worker or participant.

The SSSA offers prize money and trophies in seven categories from horsemanship and equine welfare, administration and a Newcomers’ Award.

Entries have come from the broadest range of Australia’s racing stables and studs, transport companies and the many areas of administration, as well as from individuals involved in horse welfare, and re-homing.

The city stables of trainers such as Ciaron Maher, Tony McEvoy, Chris Waller, John and Chris Meagher and John Sergeant are among those to have supplied candidates for the SSSA in 2020.

Alongside them are staff from the establishments of people like Sue Murphy from Naracoorte and Nathan Dunn from Cranbourne.

Most major studs are also represented with Coolmore, Widden, Newgate, Godolphin, Aquis, Sledmere, Spendthrift and Arrowfield, as are the bloodstock auction houses Inglis and Magic Millions.

TBA chief-executive Tom Reilly praised the SSSA as part of a worldwide acknowledgment of an industry in which Australia is a world leader.

“One of the things that the Australian racing and breeding industries can be proud of is the quality of the people who work in it at every level,” Reilly said.

“Racing is a way of life in Australia and the people who have been nominated for these awards are the ones that keep it alive and flourishing.”

“The SSSA aims to recognise their talents and their dedication. Without them the industry couldn’t function.”

The Awards also receive the support of the Melbourne Racing Club Foundation, which is again sponsoring the Administration and Ancillary Services Award, the Australian Turf Club is backing the Dedication to Racing and Magic Millions the Dedication to Breeding Awards.

As well as the above, the Awards offer recognition in the categories of Horsemanship, Leadership, Thoroughbred Care and Welfare covering occupations ranging from stable workers to exercise riders, to float drivers, secretaries, stud grooms, foaling supervisors and to the growing band of “re-homers” who provide care and a future to horses who can no longer race.

The winner in each category other than the Newcomer, receives $10,000 and a trophy with a further $3,000 to share among workplace colleagues. The winner of the Newcomer award receives $5,000 and a trip to Dubai * in 2021 pending any global health restrictions.

In addition, a further $5,000 and a trophy is awarded for the Thoroughbred Excellence Award. This additional recognition is provided to the category winner (except Newcomer and Care and Welfare) judged to have made an exceptional and significant contribution.

Judging of the SSSA is performed by a panel led by Thoroughbred Racing South Australia chief steward Johan Petzer, who will announce finalists on April 21 and the winners on 24 May.