Trainer John Oxx, who retired at the end of the recently concluded flat season, has been honored with the Contribution to the Industry Award as part of the 2020 Horse Racing Ireland Awards which were announced on Tuesday.
Oxx, who held a license for 41 years, was champion trainer in 1995 and will be best remembered as the handler of great champions like Sea The Stars (Ire), Ridgewood Pearl (GB) and Sinndar (Ire).
Another recently retired fixture of the Irish racing scene, National Hunt jockey Barry Geraghty, was the recipient of the Irish Racing Hero Award. During his 23-year career in the saddle, Geraghty was champion jockey twice. His major wins included the Grand National and Irish Grand National, the Gold Cup (twice), Champion Hurdle (four times) and Champion Chase (five times).
The other award winners are as follows: Horse of the Year Award: Al Boum Photo; Emerging Talent Award: Gavin Ryan;
National Hunt Award: Rachael Blackmore; National Hunt Achievement Award: Eugene and Maxine O’Sullivan; Point-to-Point Award: Colin Bowe; Flat Award: Colin Keane; Flat Achievement Award: Tony Mullins; Ride of the Year: Gavin Ryan.
Horse Racing Ireland Chairman Nicky Hartery said, “We are nearing the end of what has been an extremely trying year and I wish to thank everyone in this wonderful industry who adapted so well to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to our winners today, I congratulate all those who kept the show on the road in 2020. Together, we look forward to a much brighter and exciting year ahead.”
Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of HRI, said, “It is hugely important that today we recognise those who achieved so much in the year gone by. And as we do, we also pay tribute to two giants of the racing game, John Oxx and Barry Geraghty, who called time on their stellar careers in recent months. Few trainers will reach the heights enjoyed by John, and similarly, Barry was so often a winner on the biggest of racing days. We eagerly await the seasonal return of Al Boum Photo at Tramore in the coming weeks and I congratulate his owners, Marie and Joe Donnelly on his Horse Of The Year Award.”
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