GOOD ON GODOLPHIN. GOOD ON HAYLEY NICHOLS!

By Graham Potter | Saturday, December 17, 2016

There are many unsung, hard-working people working behind the scenes in racing whose contribution seldom gets any official reward or even any wider recognition within the racing industry itself.

Yet that very industry simply would not function without the overall commitment of those involved in the host of work activities related to what goes into bringing a race meeting to life at the track so that others can have the opportunity to win money, claim a race success and even find a touch of glory.

That is why it is exceptionally gratifying to see that no less than a global racing empire has taken the time and trouble to play a part in rectifying that situation by sponsoring an annual Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards.

These award were first held internationally in 2005 to 'celebrate those working in racing and breeding, and 'to reward those dedicated, hard-working people who are the backbone of our industry.'

Godolphin now sponsor awards in the UK, Ireland, Australia, France and the USA.

Queensland was represented in the 2016 honour roll in Australia this year when Hayley Nichols, stable foreman for Kelly Schweida, took home the Dedication to Racing Award at an awards function held at Moonee Valley earlier this month.

HAYLEY NICHOLS:

"I was runner-up last year and went one better this year.

"How it works is that Kelly (Schweida) had to nominated me. I think he had to write out a story about me and what I do and what I’ve achieved ... so I have to thank him very much for taking the time and trouble to do all of that.

"You don’t necessarily know you have been nominated. I did know I was nominated this year. I did not know I was nominated last year.

"The first time you hear anything official is when the finalists are announced ... if you are one ... and, for the second year running I was a finalist, which was very exciting.

"I went down to Victoria. Godolphin were so good to me.

"They paid for me to go down. They paid for the accommodation ... all of my transfers and we went out to a function room at Moonee Valley racecourse where we had dinner and drinks all provided.

"It was great but I was getting nervous about the award ... and then my name was called as a winner!

"I felt great. I felt it was an achievement but, beyond that, it really is such a good idea for them to have an award like that to give recognition to stable and stud workers.

"So it is a big thank you from me to Kelly and Godolphin.

"I do love my job. There are not many jobs where you get paid to do what you love.

"If you love horses you get so much out of it. If the horses are happy, I'm happy!"

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TRAINER KELLY SCHWEIDA (who nominated Hayley Nichols for the Dedication to Racing Award category):

“Hayley breathes racing. The job takes up so much of her time. She plays such an important part in the stable.

"A lot of times in racing the trainer sort of gets all of the credit but it is not as simple as that.

"The staff don’t always get the accolades they deserve for all of the work they do, so I was very happy to propose Hayley again (for the second year running) for an award.

“Hayley is the first at the stables and the last to leave. If a horse is sick at night she’ll be there with the vet at midnight. She’ll travels with the horses to Sydney.

"Nothing is too much trouble for Hayley.

"It's all about trust and the peace of mind that trust brings. I trust Hayley implicitly.

"She just loves racing!

“She did finish runner-up in the award last year and we were all a bit worried for her hoping that she wouldn’t just get beaten again. There were only two people in the running at the final stage and she got there.

“I congratulate her. She so deserves it."

HRO comments

Good on Godolphin ... and good on Hayley Nichols. While you would not want to see too many awards being brought into play ... an overkill might diminish the concept ... the fact is that there still plenty of room for individual local authorities to recognise the value that these bread and butter workers bring to the industry ... and it is to be hoped a way can be found to give more recognition to them in the future.

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