Paddy Trainor crowned Employee of the Year at Stud and Stable Staff Awards

Paddy Trainor was crowned the 2022 Employee of the Year at the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards on Monday evening.

A virtual ceremony, which saw £128,500 of prize-money shared among the winners courtesy of event sponsors Godolphin, was held for the second year running on Racing TV.

Trainor, a qualified industry coach, was announced as the recipient of the Employee of the Year award and £10,000 prize in recognition of his 23 years of service to Johnston Racing.

The work-rider also took home the Rider/Groom award earlier in the evening, for which a further £10,000 is to be shared among his colleagues. Dan Skelton’s assistant trainer Tom Messenger was also recognised for his leadership qualities.

Broadcaster and chair of the judging panel, Nick Luck, said: "Paddy is an incredibly deserving winner of the Employee of the Year award and all of his colleagues at Johnston Racing will rightly feel very proud this evening.

"It's been an honour and a pleasure to get to know the nominees for each category and picking winners from among them is an exceedingly difficult task, as everybody who has been nominated is most deserving of their moment in the spotlight."

BHA chief executive Julie Harrington added: "The awards are special, not only because they shine a light on the incredible work done by racing staff up and down the country but also, in being nominated, those individuals are given an indication of the high regard in which they are held by their peers.

"Everybody nominated tonight has done their bit to make horseracing a better sport and for that we are all extremely grateful."

Award winners

Employee of the Year - Paddy Trainor (Johnston Racing Ltd)

David Nicholson Newcomer - Elouise O’Hart (Ed Walker)

Leadership - Tom Messenger (Dan Skelton)

Rider/Groom - Paddy Trainor (Johnston Racing Ltd)

Stud Staff - Dulcie West (North Farm Stud)

Dedication - Alyson West (James Ferguson)

Community (in recognition of the wonderful work Rory MacDonald achieved at The British Racing School) - Freedom Zampaladus (Urban Equestrian Academy)

Read more on the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards

Meet the unsung heroes taking centre stage at Monday night's awards

Alice Price: I got unseated and broke my leg - but I came back braver and stronger

Shining a light on the backbone of our sport is my favourite job of the year

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday