New category in HRI awards

The nominees for the 2012 Horse Racing Ireland awards were announced yesterday and includes a new category – Racecourse of the Year.

This year’s feature award, the Horse of the Year category, includes nominations for Irish and English Derby winner Camelot; the unbeaten champion two-year-old Dawn Approach; winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Excelebration; the formidable four times Cheltenham winner Quevega; Punchestown Champion Chaser Sizing Europe and last year’s impressive award winner Hurricane Fly.

The nominees in the National Hunt category are: Barry Geraghty, Tony Martin, Tom Mullins, Willie Mullins and Davy Russell. The Flat nominees are Jim Bolger, Aidan O’Brien, Joseph O’Brien, Andy Oliver and Dermot Weld.

This year’s Outstanding Achievement Award nominations are comprised of five trainers and one jockey. The trainers include the colourful Peter Casey, for his handling of top rated novice chaser Flemenstar; Ladbrokes Irish Grand National winning Tom Gibney; Tom Hogan on the back the success of Gordon Lord Byron; David Nagle for his achievements with Maarek and Michael Winters who saddled one of the most improved hurdlers in 2012 — Galway Hurdle winner Rebel Fitz. Jockey Niall McCullagh makes up this category after recording his first Irish Classic success in the Irish Field St Leger aboard Royal Diamond.

The point to point category includes trainer Ray Hurley and Jockeys Jamie Codd, Colman Sweeney and Derek O’Connor.

The Contribution to the Industry Award will be announced on the day of the awards (December 10); past winners include Dermot Weld, Colm Murray, Michael Kinane, Dave Fox, Galway Race Committee, Tony Sweeney, Con Collins and Kevin Prendergast. The new addition to this year’s awards – Racecourse of the Year – will be selected by the Racegoers Consultative Forum based upon the best all round customer experience.

The category winners will be decided by ballot of the Irish racing media.