Nominations open for Stud And Stable Staff Awards
The Stud And Stable Staff Awards (SSSA), staged by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Racing Australia and supported by Godolphin, have been launched with nominations now open for the prestigious honours.
Now in its seventh year, the SSSA offers recognition and more than $100,000 in prize-money to strappers, stablehands, trackwork riders, breakers, grooms, stud hands, float drivers, office administrative staff and re-homers, among others.
In a year when racing has been able to continue almost without interruption throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the SSSA will acknowledge those unsung heroes who have played their part behind the scenes.
Nominees can be recognised in six categories: leadership; horsemanship; dedication to breeding; dedication to racing; administrative and ancillary services; and thoroughbred care and welfare. All offer $10,000 to the winner and a trophy, with $3,000 to the runner-up and $1,000 for third, with the money to be shared among their workplace colleagues.
A seventh category, the Newcomer Award, carries a $5,000 prize, with the opportunity to undertake an educational experience with Godolphin in Dubai next year.
The overall winner of the Excellence Award, who comes from the first six categories, receives $5,000 in addition to their category award, with a further $1,000 to be shared among their colleagues.
“Great trust was placed in the industry to take responsibility for its own existence during all the lockdowns and restrictions imposed on the wider community,” said Thoroughbred Breeders Australia chief executive Tom Reilly.
“Much of that trust was borne by those who work in racing stables, on farms and in other areas behind the scenes. Thanks to their conscientious approach to the restrictions and precautions, many livelihoods were preserved.”
The significance of the SSSA is also reflected in the words of the 2019 Excellence
Award winner Joe Agresta, a renowned exercise rider who played a vital role in several of trainer Bart Cummings’ Melbourne Cup wins.
“None of us do it for money because there isn’t any. We do it because we love horses, love being with them, love looking after them,” Agresta says.
“These Awards mean so much to everyone who is nominated, not just the winners. These are the people who are rarely seen or heard, but they are as important as anyone in the business.”
Nominations open today and will close on March 9, with nomination forms available at studandstablestaffawards.com.au.
The awards ceremony, which was staged on Zoom in 2020, is scheduled to be held on the Gold Coast on May 26.