Rewarding Outstanding Performances and Achievements
Â
Every jockey will say that Galway is a difficult track to ride but Gavin Ryan seems to have the key and he delivered Saltonstall with a perfectly timed run to win the ultra-competitive Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap at the Festival in July.
Gavin Ryan & Saltonstall
2020
Billy Lee & Space Traveller
2019
Derek O'Connor & Edwulf
2018
Tiger Roll was crowned 2019 Horse Of The YearÂ
Tiger Roll, owned by the Gigginstown Stud, was the deserving winner of the Horse of the Year Award.
The Gordon Elliott trained horse won back-to-back Randox Grand Nationals as well as the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham in 2019.
Alpha Centauri
Sizing John
2017
Minding
2016
Don Cossack (Joint Winner)
2015
Faugheen (Joint Winner)
Sole Power
2014
Hurricane Fly
2013
Camelot
2012
2011
Big Zeb
2010
Sea The Stars
2009
New Approach
2008
Dylan Thomas
2007
War of Attrition
2006
Kicking King
2005
In a wonderful season, Jessica posted her best tally of winners highlighted by the remarkable success of her juvenile fillies. The exciting Albigna landed the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Derby weekend before winning the prestigious Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on Arc day. There was also top-level success for the stable when Millisle won the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.Â
Donnacha O'Brien
Colin Keane
Aidan O' Brien
Pat Smullen
Eddie Lynam
Johnny Murtagh
Joseph O'Brien
Michael Halford
John Oxx
Aidan O'Brien
Jim Bolger
Declan McDonagh
Kieran Fallon
Catherine Gannon
2004
The Corkman had a terrific time of things in 2019, beginning the season with success on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Hermosa in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and rounding off the year with a first Breeders’ Cup win on Iridessa, adding to their wins in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh and the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Longines Irish Champions Weekend.Â
Rachael has cemented her position as one of the leading jockeys in the country with a second-place finish in last season’s jockeys’ championship and a string of big race victories throughout the season. She rode her first winners at the Cheltenham Festival in March on A Plus Tard and Minella Indo. Rachael brought that form to the Fairyhouse and Punchestown festivals where she was a Grade 1 winner on Honeysuckle and Minella Indo and landed the Kerry National at Listowel on Poker Party.Â
Willie Mullins
Jessica Harrington
Davy Russell
Ruby Walsh
Gavin continues to go from strength to strength and enjoyed a terrific 12 months with the undoubted highlight being by his first winner at the Cheltenham Festival in March with Espoir D’Allen which recorded a record breaking 15-length success in the Champion Hurdle. Domestically, Gavin enjoyed his best season in 2018/2019 with 33 winners, a tally he already surpassed in the current term.
TBC
Gavin Cromwell
Rachael Blackmore
Retired jockeys Pat Smullen and Ruby Walsh were joint recipients of the Irish Racing Hero Award at the Horse Racing Ireland Awards. The two champion jockeys, who retired within days of each other in May this year, were honoured with the award on the night.
Pat Smullen & Ruby Walsh
Katie Walsh & Nina Carberry
The Point-to-Point Award goes to County Wexford for the second year running as Barry O’Neill adds to his 2017 success. The 2017/18 season saw Barry defend the national riders’ title thanks to a total of 59 winners on 53 different horses with an impressive strike rate of 22%. Barry rode four trebles at Oldcastle, Monksgrange, Loughrea and Borris House which helped him not only retain his eastern rider’s title but also claim a first title in the northern region. On the track, O’Neill teamed up with point-to-point recruit Commander Of Fleet to win the Goffs Land Rover Bumper at the Punchestown Festival.
Barry O'Neill
Jamie Codd
Enda Bolger
Colman Sweeney
Derek O'Connor
JT McNamara
Liam Burke
Dr Adrian McGoldrick, who retires this year as chief medical officer of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, was presented with the Contribution to the Industry Award. The Newbridge-based GP has held the position since 2007 and was universally acclaimed for his efforts in improving jockeys’ safety and has been hailed for his research into areas including athletes’ dehydration, concussion, nutrition and mental health. Dr McGoldrick served as racecourse doctor at the Curragh for over 30 years.Â
Maureen Mullins
Des Scahill
Mick O'Toole
Moyglare Stud
Dermot Weld
Colm Murray
Mick Kinane
Dave Fox
Tony Sweeney
Kevin Prendergast
Galway Racecourse Committee
Con Collins