Congratulations to Melissa Williams
Sydney Strapper of the Year  2009-2010

Melissa Williams has been a stablehand with the John O’Shea stables for four years, having previously worked at Warwick Farm. Some of the horses she has attended over the past 12 months include Informality, Strawberry Field, Petraeus and Honest Lies.

Despite having to contend with serious health issues which require ongoing extensive medical treatment, she completes her duties way beyond expectations.  She commences work up to two hours prior to the rest of the stable employees and often remains hours after everyone else has gone.  Even on her days off, she will usually stop in to check on her horses. It is not unusual for Mel to purchase (from her own pocket) a special rug or new set of race boots or fly vale for one of the horses in her care.

Mel has a very open and honest personality, with a great sense of humour that endears her to everyone and she is always willing to lend a hand when needed. Her joyous nature and matriarchal role within the stable play an integral part in providing a happy workplace.

Mel is an exceptional horsewoman who forms an immediate close bond with her horses. Her attention to detail is second to none and her horses are always happy, relaxed and extremely well groomed.

Nothing is too much trouble or effort for the horses under her care.  The horses always come first – fast or slow, worth $1400 or $14million – they are all treated with the same blend of love, care, consistency and discipline.

Melissa Williams is a most deserved winner of the inaugural Sydney Strapper of the Year.

(The Sydney Strapper of the Year Award was hosted by NSW Racehorse Owners Association at their prestigious Racing's Night of Champions event, sponsored by Racing NSW and coordinated by Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy)

SYDNEY RACING INDUSTRY GOLF DAY

Monday, 6th September 2010
St Michael’s Golf Course – Little Bay

Guest of Honour - Hon. Kevin Greene MP
Event Ambassador - Glyn Schofield

In support of the Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy

Don't play golf?  Come to the luncheon event!

Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy, in conjunction with Racing NSW and the NSW Racehorse Owners Association is pleased to announce the inaugural  "Strapper of the Year" award for Sydney racing.

The purpose of the award is to provide industry recognition for the contribution made by stable staff to the racing industry.

The winner will be announced at the NSW Racehorse Owners Association's annual Racing's Night of Champions on Thursday August 12, 2010.

Each strapper at four consecutive metropolitan meetings was invited to nominate up to three persons (from different stables) whom they thought suitable for the award.  Over 50 people were nominated.  These were then reduced to a short list of six using input from racing officials, trainers and track staff - a process made agonisingly difficult by the large number and high quality of equally worthy candidates.
 
The six finalists for the award are:

Joanne Farley

Joanne has worked for Rod Craig at Warwick Farm for over 7 years.  Horses she has attended to during the past 12 months include Sir Nick, Velocity Gal, Clever Gaze and Intermac.  Always friendly and with a ready smile, her horse skills and her attention to detail make her a wonderful backup to Rod everyday, and especially on raceday - where the complete confidence he has in her enables him to spend more time with the owners.

Anthony Rosta

Anthony has worked for Rosehill trainer Lee Curtis for over 13 years. Extremely reliable and hard working, Anthony's dedication to the stables is legendary. Horses he has worked with this season include Black Routine, Voltabolta, Flight Command and Planet Melmac.  An outstanding horseman, with a particular knack of coaxing young horses to behave, the patience and love he has for his horses helps them to produce their best.

Sachio Shimizu

Sachio has worked at David Payne's Rosehill stables for the past 4 years.  With exceptional horse handling skills and a top class work ethic, Sachio has earned the respect of all those around him.  Horses he has attended this year include Girl Hussler, Emperor Bonaparte, Flaming Rock and Magic Model.

Skye Smalley

Skye is a talented horsewoman with many years of experience, the past 5 years having been with Guy Walter's stables at Warwick Farm.  Horses she has attended over the season include Yallingup, Dane Fontane, Kylie and Cash Attack.  Hard working and reliable, her bright and friendly manner makes her a key member of the team.

Leonard Todd

Len has been a highly valued member of staff at Les Bridge's Randwick stables for the past 5 years. Horses he has worked with this season include Gunnadoit, Sir Wally, Zeta and Hot Danish.  Punctual, reliable and loyal, the special bond Len has developed with the great Hot Danish and his devotion to her welfare has played a very important part in her success.

Melissa Williams

Mel has worked for John O'Shea at his Randwick stables for the past 4 years.  She is renowned for not just going the extra mile, but an extra two or three.  Mel is  an exceptional horsewoman with an outstanding empathy for her horses.  Moreover her joyous nature and matriarchal role within the stables make a significant contribution to the working environment.  Horses Mel has worked with over the past year include Informality, Strawberry Field, Petraeus, and Honest Lies.

 

Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy, in conjunction with Racing NSW is pleased to announce the establishment of a "Strapper of the Year" award for Sydney Racing.

"Sometimes those behind the scenes get overlooked.  This award will give some recognition to their efforts" said Ray Murrihy, Chairman of Stewards at Racing NSW.

The award will be peer-nominated with strappers at metropolitan race meetings being invited to nominate whom they think is deserving of the award.  "Surely, those who best know are the strappers themselves" said Rev Colin Watts of ARCC. 

A selected panel of racing officials and media representatives will then choose a winner from the short-listed nominations.

The winner will be announced at the NSWROA "Racing's Night of Champions" on Thursday 12th August.

For further information, contact Colin Watts on 0409 571 163 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Training horses is a team effort.  And an important part of that team is the stablehand (strapper) who cares for the horses day by day (walks them, swims them, feeds them, grooms them for raceday).  To help recognise the contribution of the strapper, ARCC is sponsoring trophies for the strapper of the winning horses at the feature Autumn carnival races of the STC and AJC - namely the Golden Slipper and the Doncaster Mile respectively.  It is traditional for the owner, trainer and jockey to receive trophies.  This year the strappers will receive one too.

Update:  Congratulations to Jarrod Jones, strapper of Crystal Lily in the Golden Slipper; and to Deltalwinder Singh, strapper of Rangirangdoo in the Doncaster Mile.

The Sydney Racing Fraternity Mass was held on March 14 at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, Kensington.  Conducted by Father Adrian Meaney and organised by Br Dan Stafford, the racing mass was attended by a record congregation consisting of people from all parts of the racing community.

The National Jockeys Celebration Day was held at Warwick Farm on Saturday March 6.
Part of the purpose of the day was to commemorate those jockeys who have died in race meetings and to pray for the safety of those now participating.  This ceremony was conducted by Mr Paul Innes (AJA) along with Br Dan Stafford and Rev Colin Watts from ARCC. 
The other purpose was to raise funds for the National Jockeys Trust which provides much needed assistance to jockeys and their families in hardship through illness or injury.

People from all facets of Sydney racing will be attending the 2010 Sydney Autumn Carnival Racing Fraternity Mass next month.

The Racing Mass, held on Sunday 14 March at 11am, is attended by people of all denominations and by people who are non-churched, representing all sections of the racing industry and is offered for the well-being of the racing industry as a whole.

“Many of Sydney’s jockeys take part in the Mass as do heads of most parts of the industry,” said chief organiser, Brother Dan Stafford (from ARCC - Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy).

“Last year all departments of racing attended including bookmakers, racing administrators, race club members, breeding and owner association members, media representatives and punters.

“In all, it is people from the racing industry and their families and loved ones devoting an hour or so to God, asking for The Lord’s blessing upon them.

“The Sydney Turf Club and the Australian Jockey Club give great support to this event and many of the 2010 race trophies, including a number of other symbols, will be included in the procession entering church for the Mass.

“Prayers are offered for those who are sick and included in the items in the procession and eventually left at the altar is a special jockeys’ bereavement book with the names of every jockey who has lost his or her life in Australian racing since the beginning of records.”'

Every capital city of Australia hosts a racing carnival mass for its people to attend.

Brother Dan stressed that everyone is welcome to attend the Mass: “People from all walks of life and faiths are very, very welcome to come and refreshments will be served following the Mass.”

2010 SYDNEY AUTUMN CARNIVAL RACING FRATERNITY MASS
Date: Sunday 14 March – commencing at 11am
Venue: Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 4 Roma Avenue, Kensington

Everyone welcome!

This year's National Jockeys Celebration Day will be held on Saturday 6th March.
ARCC will participate in a prayer for jockeys as part of the day at Warwick Farm.

The National Jockeys Celebration Day (NJCD) is an initiative of the Australian Jockeys Association (AJA) and the Australian Racing Board (ARB), to establish a day on the national racing calendar to:

• Recognise the contribution that both former and current jockeys have made to the thoroughbred racing industry;
• Commemorate those jockeys who have lost their lives in riding accidents; and
• Raise funds for the National Jockeys Trust.

The National Jockeys Celebration Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in March at designated race clubs throughout Australia and this year the event is scheduled for Saturday 6^th March in most states. Additional events will be held nationally throughout March as part of NJCD.

One of the ever-present features at a race meeting are the ambulance officers.  They are there to respond to any accidental injuries that might arise from the racing and/or handling of the horses.  At metropolitan tracks they also attend trackwork sessions each morning. 

On most occasions there are no incidents to respond to, but nonetheless they are always available should an incident arise.

In a similar way, much of the chaplain's role involves being available to respond as needs arise. In addition to this, an important part of the chaplain's role is to visit the injured and/or to provide other (non-medical) assistance when accidents happen.  The good working relationship that exists between chaplains and ambulance personnel is therfore a great bonus.