10th Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards launched at Kildangan Stud
€60,000 prize money across 10 award categories
Nominations for the 10th Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards opened on Wednesday at the awards launch in Godolphin’s Kildangan Stud in County Kildare.
Sponsored by Godolphin and supported by the Irish Stable Staff Association, Horse Racing Ireland, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and the Racing Post, the awards recognise and reward the exceptional skills, experience and dedication of the women and men in the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry and offer €60,000 in prize money across 10 award categories for the winners and their workplace colleagues.
Among those in attendance to mark the 10th Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards were previous Irish Racing Excellence Award winners – Pat O’Donovan (2015) Assistant Trainer to Jim Bolger, husband and wife Jimmy O’Neill (2016) and Audrey O’Neill (2019) Assistant Trainer and Exercise Rider and Groom for John Oxx. Valerie Keatley (2021) Head Girl for Johnny Murtagh, Brian Delahunt (2022), Stud Groom at Baroda Stud and 2025 winner Siobhan Sheridan, Yard and Foaling Unit Manager for Olive O’Connor Bloodstock in County Wicklow.
Anyone can nominate a friend or colleague for an award. Nominations are open until 5pm on Friday February 13 and must be completed online at www.itiea.org
The nomination process has been simplified for the 2026 awards. In previous years nominators were required to write a detailed profile of their nominee. This year the nominator will be contacted by a representative of Naas-based Clark People Solutions who will complete the nominee profiles by phone.
In addition to a Newcomer Award, there are five Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, an Administration Award and an Ancillary Services Award. All winners are then eligible for the Irish Racing Excellence Award, which will be announced at the awards ceremony. The Racecourse Award winner, chosen by the Irish Stable Staff Association, will also be revealed on the awards night.
The Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards ceremony will take place in the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge, County Kildare on Tuesday June 2.
Sandra Hughes, Godolphin’s Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Ambassador, is available to anyone who has questions or needs assistance with nomination queries and will be visiting racing yards and stud farms, attending race meetings and bloodstock sales in the coming weeks to encourage as many nominations as possible.
Jimmy Hyland, CEO, Godolphin Ireland, said: “On behalf of the Godolphin team it is a pleasure to say how proud we are to sponsor these awards for the 10th year. Through our involvement in breeding and racing internationally, we fully appreciate the value and quality of our industry’s employees. We are glad to support an initiative which showcases the high level of talent in the sector in Ireland.”
HRI Chief Executive, Suzanne Eade, commented: “The Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards is such a special and unique event that showcase the skill and dedication of all the talented people who work behind the scenes in racing yards and stud farms, and who all play a pivotal role in Ireland’s global reputation for racing and breeding. Horse Racing Ireland very proud to partner these awards, now in their 10th year, and would encourage everyone to nominate a colleague or a friend.”
Bernard Caldwell, CEO of the Irish Stable Staff Association, said: “The Irish Stable Staff Association are delighted to partner with Godolphin for the 10th year to reward the highly skilled men and women working in our industry. With the change to the nomination process, it has never been easier to nominate so I would appeal to everyone to put forward a colleague or friend so we can showcase our people’s talent and commitment to racing and breeding.”