The finalists have today been announced for each category of the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards after a highly competitive judging process.
All the finalists are now guaranteed a share in the £120,000 prize money, with every penny they earn being matched and shared amongst their yard by sponsors Godolphin.
The finalists in each category are now invited to meet with the judges in London on Tuesday 25 February, who will then decide the winner in each category. The winner of the Employee of the Year award will then be decided by the judges from amongst the winners of the Leadership, Rider Groom, Stud Staff and Dedication to Racing categories.
All the winners will be announced that evening during the awards ceremony, presented by Clare Balding at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel in London,
The winner of the Administration Award has already been selected by the judges and is invited to attend the awards ceremony in London along with the other finalists.
The winners of the Leadership, Rider Groom, Stud Staff and Dedication to Racing categories will receive a prize of £5,000 with an additional £5,000 also being awarded to the winner’s yard or stud. The two runners-up in these categories will win £2,000 each, with the same amount going to their year or stud. The winner of the Administration Staff Award will receive £5,000, with the same amount going to their yard or stud, and the winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award will receive £2,000, with the same amount going to their yard or stud, while two runners-up will receive £1,000 each, with the same amount for their yard. The Employee of the Year will receive an additional £15,000, with the same amount awarded to their yard or stud.
Finalists:
Leadership Award:
Tony Gorman (Richard Hannon);
Adam Kite (Ralph Beckett);
Rory O’Dowd (Brian Meehan).
Rider Groom Award:
Tony Garth (Saeed bin Suroor);
Leanne Masterson (Andrew Balding);
Alfie Mills (Mark Johnston).
Stud Staff Award:
Jayne Bushby (Upton Viva Stud);
Gerry Meehan (Newsells Park Stud);
Becky Stebbing (New England Stud).
Dedication to Racing Award:
Michael Ashley (John W Hills);
Stuart Jackson (David Simcock);
Maxine Ledger (Richard Hannon).
David Nicholson Newcomer Award:
Emma Dwyer (Mark Johnston);
Ben James (William Haggas);
Scott Sainsbury (Andrew Balding).
