Channel Seven BRC Racing Awards

The unsung heroes of Brisbane’s thoroughbred racing industry have been recognised at the inaugural Brisbane Racing Club (BRC) Awards. The BRC Awards were founded to encourage and pay tribute to the trainers, jockeys, horses, trackwork riders and participants of the racing industry; in particular, those who rarely receive recognition in front of their peers.

The following winners were picked based on their achievements throughout the 2010/ 11 season at either Eagle Farm or Doomben Racecourses.

BRC Rising Star Award - Priscilla Schmidt

Female jockey, Priscilla Schmidt, received the 2011 BRC Rising Star Award for her standout performance throughout the season. With her supermodel looks and string of successes, the budding 21-year-old jockey appears to have a very bright future in the racing industry.

 

Best Strike Rate (Trainer) - Kelso Wood

Kelso Wood’s strike rate saw him train 19 winners from 116 starters, with 47% of his runners becoming placegetters.

 

Best Strike Rate (Jockey) - Damian Browne
Damian Browne rode 40 winners at a winning strike rate of one winner in every 4.3 rides, earning him the top jockey strike rate for the season.

 

Best Strike Rate (Apprentice Jockey) - Mitchell Speers
Mitchell Speers rode ten winners at a strike rate of one winner in every 7.5 rides - the top strike rate for an apprentice jockey.

 

Industry Contribution Award - Joe Zoppi, Dave Keogh and Bruce Olbrecht

Sky Racing Cameraman, Joe Zoppi, received an Industry Contribution Award alongside track work riders Dave Keogh and Bruce Ohlbrecht both of whom have shown dedication and devotion to the development of budding riders and horses.

 

Industry Encouragement Award - Brad Herne

Brad Herne received the Industry Encouragement Award in recognition of his training efforts in his first full season of training with a team of 8 horses in work at Eagle Farm. Brad trained four metropolitan winners this year.

 

Flagship Horse of the Year - Buffering

Flagship Horse of the Year was awarded to Buffering who flew the flag for Brisbane racing in QLD and interstate. Buffering ran third to champion mare Black Caviar in the Group 1 BTC Cup earlier this year.

 

2011 Ambassador Travel Jockey Medal & 2011 Brisbane Metropolitan Jockey Premiership - Chris Munce

Jockey Chris Munce received the most gongs of the evening winning the Brisbane Metropolitan Jockey Premiership as well being awarded the Ambassador Travel Jockey Medal.

Munce has had a highly successful season having ridden 79.5 winners as well as winning the 2010 Group 1 Caulfield Cup.

 

2011 Premier Trainer Award - Robert Heathcote
The 2011 Premier Trainer Award went to Robert Heathcote for the third year in a row. This season Heathcote trained 63 winners at Eagle Farm and Doomben. He also trained winners on five of the six Brisbane Racing Carnival race days and ran fourth in the $1 million Group 1 AAMI Stradbroke with Buffering.

 

2011 Premier Apprentice Jockey Award - Justin Wood

Justin Wood was named 2011 Premier Apprentice Jockey after riding 20 winners, despite a number of injuries and setbacks.