2025-26 New Zealand Stablehand of the Year Award - sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga

New Zealand Stablehand of the Year Award - sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga

NOMINATION FORM
Nominations open: Wednesday 22 July 2026
Nominations close: Thursday 6 August 2026

Nominations to cover the 2025-26 season.

The New Zealand Stablehand of the Year Award - sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga, is open to all licenced full-time stable staff, living in New Zealand. The Award acknowledges the efforts of people who are up every morning before sunrise, rain, hail or shine, to attend to their charges’ every need. We are seeking nominations for people who give our horses the care and attention they deserve.

A licenced trainer living in New Zealand must make the nominations by completing the form below. Please be as thorough as possible, as judging will be based on your nomination form and the details provided. A Stablehand, Strapper or a Trackwork Rider with continuous full-time employment are all eligible to be nominated, provided they hold a current Stablehand licence with NZTR. The nominee must be a full-time staff member and have been employed in the thoroughbred racing industry for a minimum period of the previous 12 months continuously. The winner for each of the major regions (Northern, Central and Southern) will each receive $2,500 in prize money, flights, accommodation and tickets to the Awards evening, with the overall prize winner receiving an additional $2,500 in prize money.

The judging will be undertaken by a panel comprising of NZTR and Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga representatives. The winner will be presented with the Stablehand of the Year Award at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards on Sunday 6 September 2026. The black-tie dinner will be held at the New Zealand International Convention Centre, Auckland CBD.
For further information, please contact:

Jil Yong | Events Lead
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
Jil.Yong@nztr.co.nz | 027 309 8086
Special thanks to our sponsor
Contact Details
Nominee's Name:

First NameLast Name
Phone Number:

Area CodePhone Number
Email Address:
example@example.com
Stable:
How long has the nominee been employed by your stable?
The nominee must be a full-time staff member and employed for a minimum period of the previous 12 months continuously within the thoroughbred racing industry
How long has the nominee worked in the thoroughbred racing industry?
Does the nominee hold a current Stablehand licence with NZTR?
If the nominee holds a Trackwork Rider licence instead, but also conducts Stablehand/Strapper work, please specify this here
Letter of Support for the Nominee
What makes them stand out from any other Stablehand/Strapper?
What are some of the nominee's daily duties and how do they go above and beyond?
Please comment on the nominee's suitability for this award:
(e.g., character, horse handing skills, presentation, work ethic etc.)
Additional comments: (Confidential i.e. not for publication)
If you have any additional comments that you do not want quoted, please add them here
Trainer Verification Details

Please provide your contact details to verify your identity as a licenced trainer in New Zealand
Trainer's Name:

First NameLast Name
Stable:
Physical Address:

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Phone Number:

Area CodePhone Number
Email Address:
example@example.com
Signature:
Date:

MonthDayYear
Date
Additional Reference

If you wish to supply an additional professional reference for this nominee, please do so below
Referee's Name:

First NameLast Name
Physical Address:

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Phone Number:

Area CodePhone Number
Email Address:
example@example.com
Please complete your nomination by clicking submit below, before 5pm on Thursday 6 August 2026.
Should be Empty:

New Zealand Stablehand of the Year Award - sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga

Contact Details

Letter of Support for the Nominee

Trainer Verification Details

Additional Reference