Kildare trainer scoops Irish Racing Excellence award and Dedication to Racing award

Five people with connections to County Kildare were among the award winners at the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards which were held in the Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, County Limerick on Tuesday, April 19th.

James ‘Slim’ O’Neill, assistant trainer to John Oxx, won the overall Irish Racing Excellence Award. James, who is originally from Cabra in Dublin but has lived in Kildare, working in Oxx’s Currabeg Stables, for the last 42 years, was also the winner of the Dedication To Racing award.

James received €2,500 and a specially-commissioned trophy for winning the Dedication to Racing Award and an additional €5,000 and the overall winner’s trophy. His colleagues in Currabeg will share €5,000, which is an additional part of the award for Irish Racing Excellence.

John Oxx said: “For all these years of dedicated, loyal hard work, we feel that James deserves to be recognised as one of those who has dedicated his life to racing and has helped to underpin the excellence of racing in Ireland.”

Sonny Carey, from Suncroft, who is employed as a work rider for champion National Hunt trainer, Willie Mullins, won the Rider/Groom Award. Sonny is described as “one of the most talented riders in a yard not short of them, who shows a lot of patience and care with horses in need of rehabilitation”. He received €5,000, a trophy and €4,000 to be shared among employees in the yard.

Martina Murphy-Dunne, a native of Kilcullen but living in Rhode, County Offaly, received the Administration Award for her work as racing secretary for Dermot Weld over the last 22 years. A regular racegoer, Martina’s passion for the industry stretches beyond her day job and she recently organised a very successful Kube charity fundraiser in aid of Robbie McNamara, who was her guest at the awards. She received €5,000, a trophy, and €4,000 to be shared among employees in Dermot Weld’s yard.

Head Girl from Dick Brabazon’s pre-training yard, Lorna Buggle, from Leixlip, was the winner of the Newcomer Award. Lorna fulfils all the normal duties of a head girl and was nominated for holding such senior role in a busy yard at only 23 years of age. The Newcomer Award includes a trip to Dubai along with a €2,500 cash prize and trophy.

The Ancillary Services Award was won by Kathleen Hanratty, from Newbridge, for her work as caterer in the grooms’ canteen in the Curragh Racecourse. Kathleen is a hugely popular figure among stable staff and was thrilled to receive an award. She received a cash prize of €2,500 and a trophy. The trophies were presented by RTÉ presenter Dáithí Ó Sé, who is a long-time racing fan and regular visitor to Irish racetracks. Jonathan Mullin, Irish Editor of the Racing Post, acted as MC for the occasion.

Among the attendees were Brian Kavanagh, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, John Ferguson, Godolphin’s Chief Executive and Racing Manager, champion jockeys Ruby Walsh and Pat Smullen, champion amateur jockey Patrick Mullins, BoyleSports Irish Grand National-winning jockey Ger Fox and trainers Noel Meade and John Oxx.

Bernard Caldwell, Chairman of the Irish Stable Staff Association: “Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners. The Irish stud and stable staff play a vital role in Irish racing and breeding yards and it’s great to see their skills and dedication rewarded. I would like to thank all of our partners and everyone who helped out organising this event.” Joe Osborne, Managing Director of Godolphin in Ireland: “The quality of nominations for this year’s event was extraordinary and each of tonight’s category winners has emerged from very strong fields. I congratulate them all and also thank their colleagues who nominated them and the judges who took on the difficult task of selecting the winners.”

The full list of winners and runners-up is as follows:

Irish Racing Excellence Award James O’Neill, Assistant Trainer, John Oxx

Leadership Award Damien McGillick, Assistant Trainer, Noel Meade (Runners-up: Sally Carroll, Student Liaison Officer, Irish National Stud and James Mahon, Head Stallion Man, Derrinstown Stud) Head Lad/Girl or Travelling Head Lad/Girl Dick Dowling, Head Lad, Willie Mullins (Runners-up: Deirdre McCurtin, Head Girl, John Kiely and Deirdre Ryan, Head Girl, John Ryan)

Rider/Groom Award Sonny Carey, Work Rider, Willie Mullins (Runners-up: Jeff Byrne, Rider/Groom, Dermot Weld and Martin Deegan, Yard Manager/Groom, Ballydoyle)

Stud Employee Award Nuala Healy, Manager, Ballincurrig House Stud (Runners-up: Mick Conroy, Stud Groom/ Head Lad, Eyrefield House Stud and Mick Ryan, Head Stud Groom/ Yard Manager, Derrinstown Stud)

Administration Award Martina Murphy-Dunne, Racing Secretary, Dermot Weld (Runners-up: Pauline Byrne, Office Manager, Derrinstown Stud and Denis Hickey, Racing Secretary, Ballydoyle) Dedication To Racing Award James O’Neill, Assistant Trainer, John Oxx

Newcomer Award Lorna Buggle, Head Girl, Dick Brabazon

Ancillary Services Award Kathleen Hanratty, Grooms’ Canteen, the Curragh Racecourse

Racecourse Award Dundalk Stadium

The winners of the Leadership, Rider/Groom, Head Lad/Girl, Stud Employee and Administration awards received a trophy and €5,000 with an additional €4,000 for employees from the winner’s yard, stud or company. The two runners-up in these categories each received €500.

James O’Neill, winner of the Irish Racing Excellence Award, received an additional €5,000 and €5,000 for employees in John Oxx’s yard where he is assistant trainer.

The winners of the Racecourse Award, Newcomer Award, Ancillary Services Award and Dedication to Racing Award received a specially-commissioned trophy and €2,500.

This year, the Lifelong Learning Award was replaced by the Newcomer Award and a trip to Dubai was added to Lorna Buggle’s prize in addition to the existing €2,500 cash prize and trophy.

In association with the Racing Post and managed by Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish Stable Staff Association (ISSA), the Godolphin Irish Stud and Stable Staff Awards had a total prize-fund of €70,000.