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20 February 2018

Employee of the year Jessica McLernon has a special affinity with Racing to School

Jessica McLernon is the newly-crowned Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards Employee of the Year, fending off some very tough competition in the 14th running of these prestigious awards. Jessica, who is assistant trainer at Richard Fahey’s yard also scooped the Leadership Award at the gala event in Knightsbridge, London hosted by the BHA.

In recognition of her success, Jessica received a cheque for £40,000 that will see £20,000 shared amongst Fahey’s Musely Bank staff. This is a rapid rise for McLernon who Fahey only brought on board in 2011.

The reigning Employee of the Year also has a special affinity with the charity Racing to School, as she was awarded the Alex Scott Assistant Trainers Travel Scholarship in 2016, spending four weeks at Gai Waterhouse’s training facility in Australia. The charity contributed a grant toward this special work experience.

“I will be forever grateful to everyone who made my fantastic trip possible. It was an honour for me to be selected as the winner of such a prestigious award. I feel I have learnt so much, Gai Waterhouse and her excellent team made me feel so welcome and everyone was keen to show me how things where done down under,” said Jessica at the time.

The video of Jessica’s trip can be seen in the Racing to School video gallery here – Video gallery

Other winners recognised at the Godolphin-backed awards, included John and Jackie Porter who won the Rory MacDonald Community Award for their nine-year stay at the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Oaksey House. During their time they assisted and supported countless riders supporting them in getting back into the saddle as quickly as possible.

The total amount distributed to finalists, their yards and studs at the awards amounted to a very significant £120,000. The special guest presenter was Michael Owen alongside host and ITV lead broadcaster Ed Chamberlain – both of whom led the many tributes to the many stud and stable staff in the room and across the industry that keep the sport going from day-to-day.