Nominations now open for the new-look Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards 2023

The awards, formerly known as the Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards, are an opportunity for employees from across the various areas of the thoroughbred industry, be it in training yards, studs or in administrative roles, to be celebrated for their hard work and dedication to the sport.

For 18 years, the awards have provided unforgettable moments for individuals and organisations, with last year’s Employee of the Year Paddy Trainor having spoken openly about what winning meant to him.

Having celebrated during the virtual ceremony with his Johnston Racing colleagues, he told the Racing Post: “It means so much to me and my family. Racing is my life.”

The opportunity for such recognition is available to all who work with the thoroughbred across all stages of their life through the new-look Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, with nominations open until 8 November. Included within the awards is a Community Award category, in recognition of Rory MacDonald’s work at the British Racing School. Eligibility is as follows: any individual connected directly or indirectly to horse racing, including auxiliary and administrative staff, who demonstrate the social responsibility and values of our sport. Nominees are selfless, passionate people, who go above and beyond their everyday roles or jobs to make a positive difference to the lives of people or racehorses within the industry, or to the communities within which racing operates.

Sponsored by Godolphin and run by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in association with the Racing Post and Racing TV, the 2023 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards will carry prize-money totaling £128,500, with as much as £30,000 available to a single organisation.

Following two years of virtual ceremonies, screened live by Racing TV, an in-person awards ceremony will return in 2023, with details of this event to be confirmed in due course.

Nominations can be made online by anyone, simply by visiting the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards website at thoroughbredawards.co.uk

Video submissions will once again be accepted in advance of the 2023 awards, ensuring that the nominations procedure is as fair as possible for all those involved, irrespective of their level of written communication and language skills.

The 2023 Judging Panel will be Chaired by broadcaster Nick Luck, who did so for the first time in 2021 having taken over from Brough Scott. As is traditional, the panel will feature the previous year’s Employee of the Year, Paddy Trainor.

Julie Harrington, CEO of the BHA, said: “One of the great joys I have experienced since joining the BHA has been working with Godolphin formerly on the Stud & Stable Staff Awards and now the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards. Having the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the people who work so hard to ensure our equine stars are properly cared for is a thrill and we should all relish the chance provided by the awards to say ‘thank you’.

“These new-look awards, which are made possible by the generosity of Godolphin, now provide the opportunity for a wider range of industry employees, across the full life cycle of the thoroughbred, to achieve this recognition. I would encourage everybody in our industry to nominate colleagues they would like to see celebrated.”

Award categories:

• David Nicholson Newcomer Award
• Leadership Award
• Rider/Racing Groom Award
• Stud Staff Award
• Dedication Award
• Community Award
• Employee of the Year Award – Revealed and announced on the night

The Community Award is aimed at any individual connected directly or indirectly to horse racing, including auxiliary and administrative staff, who demonstrate the social responsibility and values of our sport. Nominees are selfless, passionate people, who go above and beyond their everyday roles or jobs to make a positive difference to the lives of people or racehorses within the industry, or to the communities within which racing operates. Last year the award was won by Freedom Zampaladus, Urban Equestrian Academy.