Nine winners have been announced for the 2022 Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards sponsored by Godolphin.
Formerly known as the Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, the award ceremony will take place in the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge, County Kildare on Tuesday next (25 October) where the flagship award – The Irish Racing Excellence Award will be announced and presented to one of the Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winners.
Kilkenny and Carlow are both represented with Tom Agar (Jim Bolger’s yard) and Imran Haider (Willie Mullins) included in the award recipients list.
The individual Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winners are
- Tom Agar, Senior Groom, Jim Bolger, Co Kilkenny
- Brian Delahunt, Stud Groom, Baroda Stud, Co Kildare
- Edward Farrell , Stud Groom, Lisieux Stud, Co Kildare
- Imran Haider, Barn Manager & Work Rider, Willie Mullins, Co Carlow
- Tommy Hayes, Yard Manager, Goffs, Co Kildare
- Denis Lawlor, Stud Groom, Ballyphilip Stud, Co Limerick
- Stephanie McGinley, Stud Groom, Boardsmill Stud, Co Meath
- Sinead O’Sullivan, Travelling Head Groom, John J Murphy, Co Cork
The winner of the Racecourse Award, chosen by the Irish Stable Staff Association based on a quality programme evaluation, is Downpatrick Racecourse in Co Down. The survey evaluates each racecourse on a range of criteria relating to facilities for stable employees with the purpose of setting quality standards at all racecourses in Ireland.
Each Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winner will receive a specially commissioned trophy by sculptor Ani Mollereau and €4,000. An additional €2,500 will be awarded to their employers to be used for the benefit of each winner’s colleagues.
The Racecourse Award winner, Downpatrick Racecourse will receive €2,500 to be spent on upgrading facilities that will benefit stable employees along with an Ani Mollereau trophy.
The Irish Racing Excellence Award winner will receive an additional €5,000 and €2,500 for their employer to be used for the benefit of their work colleagues.
“The quality and range of nominations for these awards improves every year and it is a testament to the continuing vitality of the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry in Ireland”, said Michael O’Rourke, chairman of the judging committee on Monday’s announcement.
“My thanks to all the judges for the time they have invested in making this year’s format work so well. Godolphin’s continuing sponsorship of the awards gives us confidence that these awards will continue to inspire and reward the people who keep this wonderful industry in world-beating condition.”
