The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association honored the human and equine stars of 2020 during a virtual ceremony for its National Breeding and Racing Awards on Saturday evening.
The ITBA Hall of Fame inductee for 2020 was the Irish National Stud. Ireland's Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue accepted the honor on behalf of the Irish State, while President Michael D Higgins wrote a personal message to the Irish National Stud in recognition of its national importance.
The popular Wild Geese Award, honoring an Irish national who has made an impact on the industry abroad, went this year to Gordon Cunningham of Curraghmore Stud in New Zealand. Cunningham has been based in the Southern Hemisphere for over two decades and has welcomed and helped nurture many young Irish that have gone to those shores.
Tattersalls's Todd Watt received the Special Recognition Award, while Clare Manning was honored with the Next Generation Award and Derek and Gay Veitch's Ringfort Stud received the Breeder of the Year award.
The equine award winners were as follows: Shiskin (Ire) (Sholokhov {Ire}), Novice Hurdler of the Year; Champ (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}), Novice Chaser of the Year; Paisley Park (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}), Hurdler of the Year; Altior (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Chaser of the Year; Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), 2-year-old filly; Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), 2-year-old colt; Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), 3-year-old filly; Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal), 3-year-old colt; and Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Older Horse of the Year.
See Monday's TDN for more on the ITBA Awards.
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