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Poster of the year – Nathan Hughes
Flat horse of the year – Alpinista
Jumps horse of the year – Constitution Hill
Flat jockey of the year – William Buick
Jumps jockey of the year – Harry Cobden
Flat trainer of the year – Charlie Appleby
Jumps trainer of the year – Paul Nicholls
Hero of the year – The Queen
Riding Performance of the year – Sam Waley Cohen – Noble Yeats, Grand National
Broadcaster of the year – Lydia Hislop
One to watch 2023 – Constitution Hill
Racecourse of the year – York
Journalist of the year – Chris Cook AND Alistair Downs *Joint Winners
Villain of the year – Fireworks, Derby Day
Owner of the year – Kirsten Rausing
Commentator of the year – Richard Hoiles
Thread of the year – Juvenile Hurdlers 2022/23, Ian Davies / Bachelors HallGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I’ve already congratulated Nathan and Simon (Bachelors Hall) elsewhere, so I’d just like to pass brief comment on a few of the other winners.
Great to see Constitution Hill win Jumps horse of the year and One to watch 2023 (though some understandably feel this should be a dark horse category).
And the absurd Fireworks, Derby Day as Villain of the year surely illustrates that TRF retains its moral compass where equine welfare is concerned.
Lydia Hislop as Broadcaster of the year is an interesting one.
Undoubtedly the outstanding broadcaster in terms of her professionalism and historical willingness to challenge the racing establishment.
But she’s had her critics these past 12 months.
Some feel her “Road To Cheltenham” feature is part of the problem as the racing media increasingly concertinas an entire Jumps season into a build up to four days in March.
Her criticism of a lack of meritocracy at the BHA where she sits on the Pattern Race Committee after allegedly being fast tracked onto it herself has raised eyebrows too.
And she seems to have hooked up with Raceshare – an alleged nest-feathering exercise many would have hitherto rated her the least likely in the racing media ever to countenance being involved in on a point of general principle.
There are definitely far worse examples of the gravy-train culture in the racing media, but for some it’s a bit like hearing Jeremy Corbyn just agreed to become a Tory peer.
And who would ever have THAT in their ante-post Nostradamus acca?
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Riding Performance of the Year.
The circumstances of Sam Waley Cohen’s winning ride were memorable – but the stewards banned him for nine days and fined him £400 for using his whip above the permitted level and in the incorrect place in the finish.
Should a ride that broke the rules win the award?
My least favourite TRF poll result, too, for various reasons, including those listed by CAS.
But that’s democracy for you!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Well done to all the winners.
Ian, what is the concern about RaceShare? I had never heard of it, but from a quick Google it looks like one of those low cost ownership schemes where the main benefit is a feeling of involvement. It looks like a number of reputable trainers are happy to take their money too.
I’m struggling to understand in what way Hislop is tarnished by being associated with it.
I think the perception among some on social media is that such schemes offer shocking value for money and simply line the pockets of those who run them – or lend their name to them.
And I think many thought someone of Lydia Hislop’s hitherto impeccable image on integrity would never lower herself to “taking the dollar” to be involved.
Those who set the highest standards come under the most intense scrutiny – she’s possibly a victim of her own good reputation where the criticism is concerned.
Seeing as Chezza wouldn’t invest so much as a penny even if it included dinner with his twin Goddesses Charlotte Church and Angela Rayner, Chezza isn’t best placed to comment.
But there are plenty who want to “live the dream” and such schemes arguably prey on them.
If it was a not-for-profit scheme, simply designed to get more syndicate-owned horses in racing, it might be viewed differently but that never seems to be the case.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Well done, all. Nathan, it’s heartwarming to see you being still as inspirational all these years on. You’re a good man.
A wee word on Lydia: doubtless she has as many faults as the rest of us, but if I had to trust one racing personality’s recommendations, I’d pick Lydia every time. I’ve known her a long time – first time we met properly was in 1997 when she and her fellow Racenews colleagues came running down Melliing Road carrying, Pcs, printers, phones, notepads, searching desperately for somewhere to set up a temporary newsroom within minutes of the bomb scare evacuation. They ended up establishing their operation in my kitchen.
We are not close friends by any means, but following her twitter thread for a while would give you a much stronger flavour of her and her beliefs.
All the best and Happy New Year.
JoeHi Joe
I first met Lydia Hislop back in the 1990s when she was first getting shifts on newspapers like The Sporting Life and The Independent.
Polite (even to those ill deserving of it), intelligent, driven and principled.
Not what I’d call an expert on betting and the betting industry – like all of them a week working in a bookmakers trading room or on a racecourse pitch would be an education she probably doesn’t realise she needs for her – but undoubtedly a stand-out racing journalist/broadcaster – she’d be in my top three along with Greg Wood and Chris Cook.
But these racehorse ownership schemes are about as good an investment as a packet of cigarettes and the only people who profit from them are those who run them or agree to help promote them.
Hence quite a few people expressing surprise about her affiliation to one.
Happy New Year to you, too, sir.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Thank you Joe…
Deaf Jon is a member of elite racing club
He’s still waiting for his cut of the millions they sold Marsha for
More chance getting his hearing back..
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Thanks for the reply Ian. Racehorse ownership is so expensive that it is a completely unrealistic dream for the huge majority of people. I think these racehorse ownership schemes, when run well, are a great idea.
Whether you think they provide value for money will depend on if you are looking at them as potential monetary investments, which they will almost certainly perform dismally at, or ascribe a value to the wider experience of “owning” and following a racehorse. If you place a value on the latter, then the expense and potential loss is capped, so you can indulge in a very expensive hobby at little real risk.
If such a scheme is marketed heavily along the lines of “you could make money”, then clearly this is a lie and unethical. But if it is marketed primarily along the lines of “share in the thrills of racehorse ownership” and makes clear exactly what you are getting, which RaceShare seems to be, then I have no personal concern. So I do not think any less of Hislop for having her name associated with this scheme.
All of the schemes of this nature that I’ve seen previously have been privately operated. You make an interesting point about not for profit schemes. I wonder if the BHA has ever looked into setting up such a scheme as it seems like a good way of getting more people into racing.
You are, as always, welcome, Marlingford.
I’ve zero personal interest in racehorse ownership on any level, but obviously the game needs owners, there is a finite number of billionaires out there and getting as many people who follow racing involved in funding the game’s most vital and expensive component, the horses, is key.
Maybe it’s a desire to do that – more than whatever they are paying her – that has prompted Lydia Hislop to get involved?
No horses, no racing – think about the future.
But all these schemes seem to be private enterprises run by people out to make a fast Buck.
What racing needs is a not-for-profit ownership scheme.
So, yes, maybe the BHA could actually make themselves useful for once by administering one of those?
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Well done all the winners. And many thanks to Nathan for keeping the annual awards going, much appreciated.
David
I’m happy to hear any objections, Ruby
Cormack has already done the interviews
just waiting on Dark horse nominations
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
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