Terry Doherty, Manager of Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber's Watership Down Stud, has been named employee of the year at the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards in London.
Having been at the helm of the Berkshire operation since its formation in 1992, Doherty has helped to develop a first-class broodmare band and has overseen every foaling at the stud, whose successful graduates include treble Group 1 winner Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel (Ire}) and her half-brother Rewilding (GB) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), who claimed two victories at the highest level.
Commenting on Doherty's achievement, the Chairman of the Judging Panel Brough Scott said, “The finalists were of a quite exceptional standard and it was really inspiring for the judges to hear their stories. However, in the end, Terry emerged as a clear and very fine winner and I am sure he will be a great ambassador for the sport.”
Doherty had earlier in the evening won the Stud Staff Award category and was presented with a cheque for £40,000, half of which will be shared among his colleagues at Watership Down Stud.
A total of £120,000 in prize-money was presented across six categories during the ceremony at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in Knightsbridge.
Joining Doherty on the stage as one of the winners on the night was Colin Nutter, who has been Head Lad at Sir Mark Prescott's Heath House stable for 45 years, and won the Dedication to Racing Award.
The David Nicholson Newcomer Award went to Elisha Whittington, who works for trainer Tom Dascombe, while Paul Henderson's employee Jamie Bunsell won the Rider/Groom Award, and the Leadership Award was presented to Rory O'Dowd, who is Assistant Trainer to Brian Meehan at Manton. The Rory Macdonald Community Award went the way of Racing Welfare's Sarah Monkman. The winners in each of these categories received £5,000, with the same amount awarded to fellow employees at their respective workplaces.
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