Gordon Elliott’s stable star Don Cossack and Faugheen, trained by Willie Mullins, were the first joint winners of the Horse of the Year Award after today's Horse Racing Ireland Awards at Leopardstown Racecourse.
Gigginstown House Stud, owner of Don Cossack, was represented by Eddie O’Leary, while Rich Ricci collected the award on behalf of his wife Susannah, who owns Faugheen.
The National Hunt Award went to champion trainer Willie Mullins, who had another hugely successful season with a record-breaking eight winners at the Cheltenham Festival, ten Grade 1 wins at the Punchestown Festival and 30 successes worldwide at the highest level.
Pat Smullen received his first Flat Award after a fine season that saw him crowned champion jockey for the eighth time with 103 winners. Smullen also enjoyed considerable success on the international stage.
Broadcaster Dessie Scahill was presented with the Contribution to Industry Award to mark his long carreer behind the mike. Scahill will forever be associated with Dawn Run’s epic 1986 Cheltenham Gold Cup success which he so famously commentated on for RTÉ Radio.
Cork jockey Jonathan Burke won the Outstanding Achievement Award, which was decided by a public vote through the HRI Awards App. At just 19 years of age, Burke enjoyed an excellent season with Grade 1 victories on Sizing John in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown and Sizing Granite in the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree on Grand National day.
Further big race success followed on Shanahan’s Turn in the Galway Plate.
Trainer Enda Bolger picked up the Point-To-Point Award following his clean sweep of the three main hunter chases at the big spring festivals with On The Fringe, who completed the Cheltenham and Aintree Foxhunters double and then went on to win the Champion Hunter Chase at Punchestown.
The Racecourse of the Year Award went to Leopardstown for the second year in a row. It was selected by the racegoers' consultative forum based upon the best all-round customer experience. The Foxrock track also collected special category awards for best catering, best information services and best entertainment.
Full list of award winners:
Horse of the Year Award: Don Cossack and Faugheen (joint)
National Hunt Award: Willie Mullins
Flat Award: Pat Smullen
Contribution to Industry Award: Des Scahill
Outstanding Achievement Award: Jonathan Burke
Point-To-Point Award: Enda Bolger
Racecourse of the Year Award: Leopardstown
