O’Brien, Magnier Family To Receive Award Of Merit

[Wandering Eyes]

The Magnier Family and Aidan O’Brien have been announced as the recipients of the 2018 Longines and IFHA Award of Merit, which recognizes distinguished horsemen and horsewomen for lifelong contributions to Thoroughbred racing. They will be honoured on Aug. 14 in Dublin at an event to coincide with the launch of the 2018 Longines Irish Champions Weekend, which will take place at Leopardstown Racecourse on Sept. 15 and The Curragh Racecourse on Sept. 16.

Representing the Magnier family, MV Magnier, said, “We are most grateful to Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities for this recognition, and while the award may have the Magnier name on it we know that we are part of a much larger family which includes our partners, the Smiths and the Tabors, along with all the O’Briens at Ballydoyle. A big thanks to all.”

Aidan O’Brien said, “Our thanks to the Magnier family, the Smiths and the Tabors for helping to make Ballydoyle what it is today. We are privileged to be associated with such wonderful people who leave no stone unturned as we try to get the best out of every horse. We really appreciate the tremendous and unfailing support of all the team at Ballydoyle, whose commitment is second to none, I would like to thank them all.”

Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland and a vice-chairman of the IFHA, said, “It is a source of great pride that those we honour today hail from Ireland, yet are recognized the world over. With its origins in County Tipperary, the Magnier family has built an unrivalled global operation that has been responsible for so many of the greatest equine stars the world has seen. In Aidan O’Brien, the Coolmore partners have the best trainer in the world, indeed a world-record holder after his exploits last year. Their successes do so much to promote Ireland as a global leader when it comes to breeding and racing, and I wish the Magnier family and Aidan, Annemarie and their family every success for the future.”

Aidan O’Brien has trained over 300 Grade/Group 1 winners, and last year set a record for Group 1 wins in a season, besting Bobby Frankel’s previous mark of 25 with 28. The Magnier family owns both Ballydoyle and Coolmore, which has developed numerous sires to reach international acclaim including Sadler’s Wells, Galileo, Montjeu and Danehill.

Previous winners of the Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit include Yutaka Take, the Romanet family, Jim Bolger, Alec Head, Seth Hancock, and the late Marcel Zarour Atanacio.

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