The judging panel faced an extremely difficult task to narrow down this year’s record-breaking number of outstanding entries, with all of the six judges praising the high calibre of nominees.
The 15 finalists will meet with the judges in London on Sunday 3rd March before the presentation of the awards at a lunch ceremony at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel in Knightsbridge the following day, which Clare Balding will be hosting.
The winner in the four main categories will receive £5,000 with the same amount going to their yard, while the two runners-up in each category will each receive £2,000, with the same amount awarded to their yards. The winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award will receive £2,000 with the same amount awarded to their yard, while the two runners-up will receive £1,000 each with the same amount going to their yards.
The winner of the Administration Award, which carries prize money of £5,000 to the winner and the same amount to their yard, will be announced at the awards ceremony on Monday 4 March.
The Employee of the Year will also be announced at the ceremony, with the winner selected from the winners of the Stud Staff, Rider/Groom, Dedication to Racing and High Achiever Awards. The winner of Employee of the Year will receive an additional £15,000, with the same amount again awarded to their yard.
The finalists for The Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards 2013 are as follows:
| NOMINEE | EMPLOYER | |
| DAVID NICHOLSON NEWCOMER AWARD | ||
| Laura Hamilton-Smith | Andrew Black | |
| Holly Harper | Rose Dobbin | |
| Jack Teal | Malcolm Jefferson | |
| STUD STAFF AWARD | ||
| Cheryl Cory | Goldford Stud | |
| Kevin Gossage | Aislabie Stud | |
| Gill Murphy | Stowell Hill Stud | |
| RIDER / GROOM AWARD | ||
| Paul Burns | Brian Meehan | |
| Caroline Hovington | Ed Walker | |
| Seamus O’Gorman | Godolphin – Saeed bin Suroor | |
| HIGH ACHIEVER AWARD | ||
| Anthony Cromby | Sir Michael Stoute | |
| Dominique Dainton-McElroy | Donald McCain | |
| Robin Trevor-Jones | Ed Dunlop | |
| DEDICATION TO RACING AWARD | ||
| Brian ‘Jock’ Bennett | Mark Johnston | |
| Gerry McCormack | John Gosden | |
| Steve Raymont | Roger Charlton | |
Robin Mounsey, Media Manager for the British Horseracing Authority, added:
“The task of choosing finalists from the outstanding range of entries we receive is always a tough enough job for our panel of Judges. When you consider that this year a record-breaking number of entries was received then their task was made all the more difficult.
“As a result though the quality and calibre of the finalists is as high as it has ever been. All of those who have made it to the final shortlists are now winners, with guaranteed prize money which is also matched and shared amongst their yard. In reality though everybody who has been nominated should consider themselves as winners, and it is only right that their skills and dedication has been acknowledged.”
