Stud and Stable Staff Awards 2008

Sean Travis (pictured right), from Jeremy Noseda’s yard in Newmarket, has been named as Stable Employee of the Year at the fourth annual Stud and Stable Staff Awards in central London.

Three-times Champion Jump Jockey Richard Dunwoody, guest of honour and recently back from conquering the South Pole, presented Travis with a cheque for £15,500. His colleagues at Shalfleet stables will share the same amount amongst themselves.

A specially invited audience of around 150 gathered to pay tribute to the leading stud and stable employees in the country, as nominated by their employers and peers. The Awards – the richest of their kind in the world, with £75,000 in prize money – are generously sponsored by Godolphin, and run by the British Horseracing Authority in association with the Racing Post.

Travis, who has worked in racing for 45 years, was also the winner in the Rider/Groom category. He has worked with Group One winners Sixties Icon and Simply Perfect in recent years, and also been associated with trainers Noel Murless, John Oxley, Jeremy Hindley and Henry Cecil during his career. Jeremy Noseda, who nominated Sean for the award, described him as having an exemplary attitude around the yard, earning him the respect and friendship of all the staff he comes into contact with.

Each individual category winner collected £3,000, with their colleagues at their respective stable or stud sharing £3,000 between them. The two runners-up in each category also received £2,000.

The full list of winners was as follows:
David Nicholson Newcomer – Victoria Blueman – Lucy Wadham, Newmarket
Stud Staff – Charlie Wood – Side Hill Stud, Newmarket
Rider/Groom – Sean Travis – Jeremy Noseda, Newmarket
Senior Staff – Karen Parris – William Jarvis, Newmarket
Special Merit / Hero – Katie Clark – Henrietta Knight, West Lockinge

The Awards were judged by a panel comprising Brough Scott of the Racing Post (Chairman); former Champion Jockey Kevin Darley; Jim Gale, Chief Executive of the South Yorkshire Training Trust; BHA Director Morag Gray; Miles Littlewort, former Chief Executive of the National Stud; and British Bloodstock Marketing Representative Dinah Nicholson.

British Horseracing Authority Chief Executive Nic Coward said: "These Awards are unique and very special. This is all about the sport honouring the people who really make it happen. Huge thanks go to Godolphin for making such a great contribution, and congratulations to all the terrific nominees."