AIRO hold their 2021 Flat awards at naas Racecourse

The Association of Irish Racehorse Owners held their flat Awards at Naas Racecourse yesterday on the concluding day of the Flat Season.  These Awards acknowledged the fantastic achievements of Irish Flat Owners whose horses excelled on the racecourse this season.  Sponsors for the event were HRI Ownership Dept, the ITBA and The Irish Field.
 
The Leading Owner and Champion Horse awards were determined by Horse Racing Ireland and went the way of Mrs John Magnier and St. Mark’s Basilica owned by Mr Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Mr Michael Tabor.  Jamie Moriarty representing the connections accepted the award on their behalf.  
 
The following awards were selected by an independent panel consisting of all the Irish Racing TV pundits:
Owner Breeder Award – HH Aga Khan – Tarnawa – Pat Downes received the award on behalf of HH Aga Khan.
Syndicate /Racing Club Award – Kildare Racing Club – Sonnyboyliston, Liam Clarke received the award on their behalf.
Value Purchase at Goffs Award – Miss C R Holmes - Laws of Indices
Value Purchase at Tattersalls Ireland – Mrs Caroline Hendron & Mrs Mairead Cahill - Helvic Dream 
Racing Dream Award – Mr Patrick Moyles - Logo Hunter
 
The final two awards presented on the day were people awards selected by AIRO’s Awards Committee.  The first was a Special Achievement Award to Mrs Jackie Bolger in respect of the remarkable classic winning victories on the track of both Poetic Flare and Mac Swiney this season, both bred, trained & owned by Mrs Bolger and her husband Jim.  
 
Brian Kavanagh received the Services to the Industry Award in recognition of the tremendous work he had done at the helm in Horse Racing Ireland for 20 years.  In a lively chat with MC Brendan McArdle, Mr Kavanagh informed the group that he was looking forward to his new role as CEO of the Curragh and looked forward to hosting all the owners in the future.

We also held a Fantasy Forecast competition during the day and Martin Walsh was the overall winner on 46 points.
 
AIRO together with HRI Ownership Dept sponsored a meal voucher for all stable staff on the day as a token of gratitude for the dedication and hard work given every day looking after our horses.  
 
The next awards day will take place on Sunday 5th December at Punchestown Racecourse where we look forward to hosting all the winning National Hunt Owners.