GOING GONE CROWNED HORSE OF THE YEAR AT EPSOM AWARDS
On Saturday 3rd December, Epsom’s racing community celebrated their successes of 2022 at a glittering black-tie awards ceremony, hosted by Racing Welfare. The ever-popular event, sponsored by the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), took place at Epsom Downs racecourse and saw 11 awards presented to the owners and trainers of the best horses trained in the locality.
Jim Boyle’s stable star of 2022, Going Gone, was the recipient of two awards: Best Turf Horse and Horse Of The Year, following an excellent turf campaign. The four-year-old gelding by Le Havre started off his season with a win at Epsom back in April. He followed up that effort later in the year being narrowly beaten at Ascot in the Shergar Cup and winning a valuable handicap at Doncaster, before closing with a very creditable 6th place in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket.
As well as the best equine stars of the region being recognised on the night, plaudits were served up to deserving individuals in the community. Epsom’s Stable Manager, Dominic Toole, was recognised with the Stanley Wooton Award for his outstanding contribution to Epsom as a training and racing centre; and Caroline Agnew was awarded the Racing Welfare Dedication to Racing Trophy for continuing to show her dedication to the people and horses of Epsom, despite receiving a cancer diagnosis in 2021.
The event, which was in it’s 23rd year, raises much needed funds for Racing Welfare. Proceeds from the ticket sales and auction will go towards support services which benefit those working in and retired from the horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industry.
Dawn Goodfellow, chief executive of Racing Welfare said: “Congratulations to all the winners at this year’s Epsom Owners’ and Trainer’s Awards. Thanks must go to our ever loyal and generous sponsors for their support of the evening, not least the ROA for their headline sponsorship.
“It is wonderful to see the local community coming together in celebration of their achievements. I’d like to thank all the owners, trainers and racing staff that attended and supported the event for another year.”
Full list of awards and winners at the 2022 ROA Epsom Owners’ and Trainers’ Awards:
Stanley Wooton Award (recognising the outstanding contribution by an individual to Epsom as a training and racing centre) – sponsored by Epsom Downs Racecourse: Dominic Toole
Sir David Prosser Trophy (for the Epsom trainer with the most winners in a calendar year) – sponsored by Orbital Veterinary Services: Adam West
Racing Welfare Dedication to Racing Trophy – sponsored by RaceTech: Caroline Agnew
Best Two-Year-Old – sponsored by ROA VAT: Rocking Ends (Brett Johnson)
Best Three-Year-Old – sponsored by Shotter & Byers: Live In The Dream (Adam West)
Best Older Horse – sponsored by Moss Electrical: Epsom Faithfull (Pat Phelan)
Best Turf Horse – sponsored by J&J Franks: Going Gone (Jim Boyle)
All-Weather Performer – sponsored by All-Weather Championships: Dembe (Brett Johnson)
Horse with the most wins – sponsored by The Fat Jockey Partnership: Noahthirtytwored (Adam West)
Most improved handicapper – sponsored by Rightsure: Lethal Angel (Brett Johnson)
Horse Of The Year – sponsored by ROA: Going Gone (Jim Boyle)
Photographer: Dan Abraham