Fahey and his stable star steal the limelight at Yorkshire awards

Richard Fahey celebrated another successful season at the Go Racing in Yorkshire awards lunch on Thursday, claiming the title for leading Flat trainer in the county – while his stable star Ribchester was crowned Yorkshire horse of the year.

Fahey, the reigning champion, saddled 75 winners during the season, hitting the mark at all of Yorkshire’s nine racecourses. Ribchester, who has now been retired to Darley’s Kildangan Stud, scored a Group 1 hat-trick in 2017, winning the Lockinge, Queen Anne Stakes and Prix du Moulin.

Danny Tudhope won the leading Flat jockey award with 63 winners, while Dan Skelton and Brian Hughes won the awards for leading 2016/17 jumps trainer and jockey respectively.

Toast of the event was Mark Johnston, who was honoured with the outstanding achievement award in a year that witnessed the trainer’s 4,000th winner, while young gun Callum Rodriguez was named Yorkshire future star.

Magnolia millions

All the donations have been counted, the final tally is in . . . and Goodwood has revealed its 2017 Magnolia Cup raised an incredible £178,000 for children’s mental health charity Place2Be.

This year’s race, held on ladies’ day at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, was won by Dido Harding. After seven renewals the event has now raised more than £1.2 million for charitable causes.

Dido Harding wins the 2017 Magnolia Cup on Duck And DumplingsCredit: Mark Cranham

Place2Be provides in-school support and expert training to improve the emotional wellbeing of pupils, families, teachers and school staff.
The 2018 Magnolia Cup will take place on Thursday, August 2.

Change at the top

Ascot’s commercial director Juliet Slot will join the board of Great British Racing Ltd from January 1, 2018. Slot, who has worked in sports marketing for over two decades – including serving on the board of Fulham FC, the first woman in its history – replaces RCA chief executive Stephen Atkin.

Slot said: “The work of Great British Racing is of great importance to the industry and I’m looking forward to being part of the strategy team.”

Atkin, who joined the board in 2007 under GBR’s previous guise of Racing Enterprises Limited, said: “It has been a privilege to work with Tony Langham, Rod Street, and the talented Great British Racing team.”

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