THE champions of Yorkshire racing have been celebrated at an annual awards lunch - with Redcar's reputation as a launch-pad for top-class horses again in the spotlight.
The honours included Highfield Princess unanimously being awarded the title 'Yorkshire Horse of the Year' after her fairytale rise through the ranks of the sport.
The wonderful mare, trained in Malton by John Quinn, and owned and bred by John Fairley, won three Group 1 contests in three different countries in 35 days before heading out to America and finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.
She started her career by finishing eighth in a Grade 5 maiden at Redcar but now stays in training next season as one of Europe's leading sprinters.
John Fairley received the award at the lunch at York Racecourse, where his star mare won the Group 1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes in August.
He told the audience of trainers, owners, jockeys and racecourse officials: “She’s having a little holiday right now and then will go back to John (Quinn) when he tells me the time is right. She has a wonderful custom mind that just wants to win races and we’re thinking about the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot.”
The Go Racing In Yorkshire Awards Lunch, sponsored by the Tote, showed highlights of Yorkshire-trained horses in action, courtesy of Racetech.
Champion Jump Jockey Brian Hughes was awarded the leading jump jockey in Yorkshire prize with 26 winners across the county’s three jump courses, Catterick, Doncaster and Wetherby, while Dan Skelton took the trainer’s equivalent prize with 25 victories during 2021/22.
On the flat, both prizes stayed closer to home with Tim Easterby well out in front on 67 winners, 19 ahead of his nearest rival, while Thirsk-based Danny Tudhope took the leading flat jockey award with 48 winners.
With four victories, Ryan Sexton, based in Malton with Adrian Keatley, won the Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars Apprentice Series, sponsored by White Rose Saddlery. He competed in eight of the 11 races in the series, amassing an impressive 75 points.
The young Irishman reflected on his career so far, saying: "I came over from Ireland to join Adrian Keatley last year, but didn’t have my first ride until the end of August so this is my first full season. I’m delighted to win this award and my highlight of the season was winning on Look Out Louis at Chester for Julie Camacho.”
Milestone Awards were presented by Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the Tote, to Mark Johnston marking him training 5,000 winners; Ruth Carr and Paul Midgley who both hit the 500 career winner mark; Brian Hughes for riding his 1,500th winner; and flat jockey Kevin Stott for riding his 500th winner.
A special presentation was made to John Sexton, who retired after nine years as Chairman of Go Racing In Yorkshire back in 2021, and he received a caricature by well-renowned racing artist Birdie.
The event was attended by celebrated actress Eleanor Tomlinson, who became a household name in the role of Demelza in the hit TV series, Poldark. Her father, Malcolm - a Yorkshire-based racing commentator and actor - hosted the awards alongside ITV Racing presenter Adele Mulrennan.
Ben Warn, Chairman of Go Racing In Yorkshire said: “Having missed the last two award lunches due to Covid, it was a great opportunity to get everyone together to celebrate all that is good about racing in Yorkshire.
"We were delighted to have so many racing professionals and members of the media come and support the lunch and would also like to thank the Tote for sponsoring and York Racecourse for being such wonderful hosts. As a sport we have a great deal to be proud of in the county and we look forward to more incredible performances and supporting the continued success of our athletes, both equine and human, in 2023 and beyond.”
Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the Tote added: “We are delighted to have supported the Go Racing In Yorkshire annual lunch which was a really special occasion celebrating some of British racing’s leading stars and performances in 2022. The Tote is an integral part of the racecourse experience and we look forward to continuing to work with all of Yorkshire’s nine racecourses bringing innovation and an improved value proposition to the pool betting experience for all Yorkshire racegoers.”
- Main picture: John and Kitty Fairley, owners of Highfield Princess, receiving the Yorkshire Horse of the Year Award from actress Eleanor Tomlinson