Nominations for the 2019 Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards close next Monday (1 July) and, if you have a member on your team you deem worthy of recognition, now is not the time to dilly dally.
Initiated in 2015, the Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards – in conjunction with Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Racing Australia – has done a wonderful job of recognising those who mainly toil behind the scenes and, if you don’t think this ‘acknowledgement’ makes a difference, then you haven’t seen the faces of recipients.
Take Malua Racing’s Joe Agresta for instance. Agresta was a track rider for Bart Cummings for over 30 years, hopping on board some of the best gallopers to grace the Australian turf.
Yet, upon receiving his award last year for ‘Dedication to Racing’, Agresta was in awe of the occasion: “to be honoured like this is probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me in racing,” an overcome Agresta enthused.
And what about ‘Newcomer’ Meg Stanley from the Kathryn Durden stable? Stanley is never likely to forget receiving her trophy last year, nor the ensuing trip to Dubai for the World Cup meeting as part of the prize.
“I was over there (in Dubai) for five days and it was just incredible,” Stanley told TDN AusNZ. “We stayed at the Meydan racecourse and went to the races. We also went to Charlie Appleby’s stables and they took us to the Taj Mahal replica and a few other cultural events. A fantastic experience.”
Trophies (along with $10,000 to the winner plus $3,000 to share among staff) are awarded for ‘Leadership’, ‘Horsemanship’, ‘Dedication to Breeding’, ‘Dedication to Racing’, ‘Administration and Ancillary Services’ and ‘Thoroughbred Care and Welfare’, while the ‘Newcomer’ receives a trophy and $5,000.
An overall award for ‘Thoroughbred Excellence’ is also bestowed which was won by Joe Agresta in 2018.
Again, noms close 12pm noon on Monday and to get your entries in, visit: https://www.studandstablestaffawards.com.au.
Don’t hesitate … nominate a mate!
