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Beck Edmunds Named Employee of the Year at the 2021 GSSS Awards

Rebecca 'Beck' Edmunds of Bryan Smart Racing was named the 2021 Employee of the Year at the virtual Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards on Monday evening. The free-to-air broadcast was hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin on Racing TV, while the GSSS Awards were organised by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in conjunction with the Racing Post and Racing TV.

Edmunds, Head Girl of Bryan Smart Racing and married to Smart's assistant trainer Kevin Edmunds, has worked at the yard for 17 years. She will receive £10,000 for herself and a further £10,000 will be shared among her colleagues at Bryan Smart racing. She also won the Leadership Award, which is another £5,000 for herself and £5,000 split between her fellow employees. Edmunds was viewed as a mentor and role model by her peers. Her ability to think outside the box and her empathy for her equine charges has made her a superb ambassador both inside her yard and for the sport as a whole.

The other category winners on the night were:

Newcomer: Alice Price – Ben Pauling
Leadership: Rebecca 'Beck' Edmunds – Bryan Smart
Rider/Groom: Joanna Lacisz – Sir Michael Stoute
Stud Staff: Elody Swann – Newsells Park Stud
Dedication: Joline Saunders – Richard Phillips

There was also a special Community Award which was presented to Richard Phillips in recognition of the wonderful work Rory MacDonald achieved at The British Racing School. All told, £128,500 was awarded to the dedicated stud and stable staff of British racing. A celebratory event is being planned for the summer of 2021 to honour the evening's winners and nominees. For the full results, please visit: www.studandstablestaffawards.co.uk.

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Turf, Dirt No Problem

The John Gosden-trained, Prince Faisal homebred Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) stole the show in Saturday's $20-million Saudi Cup. Gary King caught up with Ted Voute, racing manager to Prince Faisal, on Monday morning to reflect on the win.

GK: Prince Faisal has enjoyed incredible success in the bloodstock world over the years, which includes breeding and racing Invincible Spirit (Ire). Where does this victory rank?

TV: I think being on his home dirt, as it were, I would have to say Mishriff has made Prince Faisal a very proud man. Having named him after one of his closest friends soon after his death, and having named a horse Mishriff in the past who broke down, for Mishriff to win in front of his family in his homeland was a thrill he will never forget.

GK: Could you tell us a little bit more about Prince Faisal's breeding operation?

TV: He has 11 mares which all board with me at our farm in the village of Eydon, England.

GK: It was such a fantastic performance, beating two of America's best dirt horses in Charlatan and Knicks Go. Should we expect to see him running this summer and autumn in America?

TV: The racing programme hasn't been discussed by John Gosden and Prince Faisal yet, but I know that the G1 Juddmonte International at York, which throws up some of the best horses every year, would be dear to Prince Faisal. To add a domestic Group 1 to his CV would be the next logical step.

But I'm sure Royal Ascot's G1 Prince of Wales's S. and the G1 Eclipse at Sandown would be high on the agenda. He's in the G1 Dubai World Cup and the GI Breeders' Classic, more because I persuaded the boss to enter in case we won.

GK: So would the GI Breeders' Cup Classic now be a logical end of season goal?

TV: He has already formed an interesting CV winning at two, three and four over various distances, going and surfaces. As I have said there are no set plans, but the end of the year brings the G1 Arc, the G1 Champion S., and the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

It's a long time away and I don't know about the Prince but I would be torn between the Arc and the Classic. I would like to see him amass credentials to make him attractive as a stallion to studs in the U.S., Japan or Europe. His win on Saturday has certainly not gone unnoticed from farms in all three jurisdictions.

GK: His dam, Contradict (GB), is obviously a highly valuable part of the broodmare band now. Could you tell us about the mare, and who she has been covered by over the last few seasons?

TV: Contradict was originally in training with Sir Micheal Stoute as a 2-year-old and was placed second and third. Determined to get her to win a small race she went to Mick Channon who won at Salisbury and was fourth in a listed race.

Her first foal by Invincible Spirit (Ire), close inbreeding to Rafha (GB), was stakes winning Orbaan (GB) who was with Andre Fabre. Her second was stakes placed Momkin (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) who Roger Charlton trained and raced in the 1351 Turf Sprint on Saturday and is now in Saudi Arabia. She is three-for-three black-type.

She went to Invincible Spirit for two years and was barren and also barren to Frankel (GB). She is currently in foal to Frankel and due at the beginning of March. She will visit Make Believe (GB) this year, and is currently at Coolmore waiting to foal.

GK: And finally, a few words about John Gosden and David Egan?

TV: For David Egan it was a life changing moment for a young talented rider. Even with his $100,000 fine for excessive [whip] use I am sure he will have enough left over to buy a nice house. From a wide draw, he kept Mishriff out of the kick back and produced him at exactly the right time, waiting for the U.S. horses to battle it out in front.

John Gosden is the best trainer in England. To train a horse in the winter months on his own is a phenomenal feat. I also sent him New Treasure (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) who was third in the Saudi Derby having bought him in the Tattersalls Horses-In-Training Sale [90,000gns from Jim Bolger's Glebe House Stables].

Mr. Gosden's staff have had all the COVID restrictions to contend with in travel, and Thady Gosden did a first-class job handling his training after his arrival where he blossomed each day he was there.

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UK Spectators to Return No Earlier Than Mid-May

Crowds will not return to UK racecourses until mid-May at the earliest Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, when discussing the UK's path out of its current COVID-19 lockdown.

Schools will reopen on Mar. 8, but grassroots sport will not begin prior to Mar. 29, along with larger groups being allowed to gather in parks and gardens. Johnson is planning on crowds back at sports venues no earlier than May 17.

Racing has taken place behind closed doors in England since it resumed in June with the exception of a few pilot events and a few cards prior to the holiday season. Owners were on-course this past summer beginning in July, but have also not been able to attend since the latest lockdown started.

Outdoor venues and outdoor events will be limited to 4,000 people or half-full, whichever is lower, while indoor events are capped at 50% capacity or 1,000, whichever is lower. Special provision for large, outdoor, seated venues where crowds can be safely disbursed are limited to 10,000 people or 25% of total seated capacity, whichever is lower. However, pilots events will be held to examine how such events can take place without the need for social distancing, using other mitigation efforts such as testing, the Government said. The earliest date capacity limits could be removed is on June 21, two days after the end of Royal Ascot.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) made the following statement regarding the UK Government's roadmap out of COVID-19:

“On behalf of British racing and all those who work in our industry, we very much welcome the government's announcement today of a roadmap for the removal of the current COVID restrictions.

“The whole sport has worked hard to abide by our race-day protocols to allow racing to continue behind closed doors and support the many livelihoods that depend on our industry. British racing's classification as an elite sport made this possible. But we do miss owners and we do miss spectators whose presence at meetings contributes so much to the thrill of our sport.

“We have already introduced additional measures to reduce the risks of transmission of the virus and have further options under consideration. We will now engage with government to highlight our ability to move beyond the current limitation on essential staff only as soon as that is possible and allow the return of owners.

“Racing continues to benefit from the incredible loyalty shown by owners. We will clarify as soon as possible when they can return to race-meetings, and when amateurs can resume riding.

“The government has also published details today on the potential timings for the return of spectators to elite sport. We have further discussions with officials scheduled which will enable us to draw up specific proposals for race meetings, including potential pilot events. We also expect to hear further details of the plans for Scotland and Wales which are not covered by today's announcement.

“Whilst the publication of dates is a very positive sign, the absence of spectators from our big events is continuing to put a strain on racing's revenues. This has been exacerbated by the closure of betting shops. Our financial discussions with government are ongoing.”

A statement from the Racecourse Association was released later in the day which read: “The RCA welcomes the announcement made by the Prime Minister outlining the route map out of national lockdown and a timeline for the safe return of spectators to major outdoor events.

“We will continue to work closely with our member racecourses, Government and relevant health and safety authorities to ensure that racegoers are amongst the first sports fans to safely return and enjoy a day's racing.”

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Report: Fans Could Be Allowed Back At Santa Anita This Spring

The Daily Racing Form reports that executive at Santa Anita are working on protocols to allow a limited number of paying customers back to the track sometime this spring.

Nothing has been finalized yet, and any plans would be contingent on a continued improvement of COVID-19 statistics in the area. Los Angeles County, where Santa Anita is located, has had one of the worst outbreaks in the area and is currently classified by state government as having the tightest level of restrictions on business openings and gatherings based on its current COVID-19 figures.

Santa Anita management was encouraged to learn management for the Los Angeles Dodgers is in discussions with state health officials to allow fans to the team's home games, and Disneyland has also been working on a reopening date.

Since last summer, owners with horses entered on a card have been permitted to watch the races in person at the track, but the facility has otherwise been closed to the public.