HORSE RACING IRELAND AWARDS:THE EPSOM Derby winner New Approach was yesterday crowned 2008's Horse of the Year at a Horse Racing Ireland awards presentation in Dublin.
The Jim Bolger-trained colt, who is now standing at Sheikh Mohammed's Kildangan Stud, was a clear winner in voting over such Aidan O'Brien-trained stars as Duke Of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator and Yeats.
The award was picked up from the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Martin Cullen, by Sheikh Mohammed's racing manager John Ferguson, who represented Princess Haya of Jordan, wife of the Sheikh, in whose colours New Approach raced.
"It has been an unbelievable year for the Princess and the Derby was a whirlwind," said Ferguson who paid tribute to Bolger and to jockey Kevin Manning. Both men left for Hong Kong yesterday where they run Lush Lashes in the International Cup on Sunday morning.
Not surprisingly, O'Brien didn't miss out after his remarkable achievement in training 23 Group One winners this year and the champion trainer picked up the Flat award. It was his first time to win the prize after being nominated for the last six years in a row.
"We had a great team of horses this year and it was a privilege to be involved with them," said O'Brien, who suggested there may be some significant untapped potential among his Classic hopes for 2009. "A lot of the two-year-olds that ran at the back end were only barely ready for a race so they could improve a lot."
Ruby Walsh landed the National Hunt award for the fifth time and announced afterwards he hopes to resume riding at Cheltenham's Boylesports International meeting this weekend after a spell on the injury sidelines during which he had to have his spleen removed. "I have to see Dr Adrian McGoldrick on Wednesday for a check up but I'll be back by the weekend with a bit of luck," he said. "I was a bit disappointed that a spleen is only 2lb in weight - I thought I was going to get my Flat licence!"
HRI's chief executive Brian Kavanagh paid tribute to all the nominees for the six awards and also took the opportunity to argue racing's case for a renewal of the Horse and Greyhound Fund which runs out in February.
"The most important feature in Irish racing has been the horse and greyhound fund. It is in the process of being reviewed and it is vital for the on-going development of the industry," he said while arguing that the biggest problem facing racing is the question of off-shore betting.
"A total of €1.5 billion is being bet off-shore in telephone betting and internet betting with no return, whereas two euro in every one hundred euro bet with a bookmaker here is taxed," he said. "It is an area we are working on and even bookmakers now accept that it cannot go on."
In response, Minister Cullen stressed he understood how effectively the Horse and Greyhound Fund had worked in Ireland and added: "This review is well under way and personally I am utterly committed to negotiating that fund so that when things turn around racing will be in a place to make the most of it."
Other award winners included the champion amateur jockey Patrick Mullins, who won a special achievement award after a memorable season when he rode Cousin Vinny to complete the Cheltenham-Punchestown bumper double.
The point-to-point award went to John Thomas McNamara, the winning most rider in that sphere, who this year became the first jockey to ride 500 point-to-point winners.
An outstanding contribution to the industry was also made to Dave Fox whose career as a jockey valet has spanned 50 years.
AWARD WINNERS
Horse of the Year: New Approach.
Flat award:Aidan O'Brien.
National Hunt award:Ruby Walsh.
Point-to-point award:John Thomas McNamara.
Special Achievement award:Patrick Mullins.
Outstanding Contribution award: Dave Fox (Jockeys' valet).
