TBA Stud Employee Award Winner: Ron Lott

The TBA Stud Employee Award, kindly sponsored by Peter Stanley’s New England Stud, aims to recognise the significant contribution that stud employees make to the breeding industry and reward those who have shown dedication and excellence in their role. This can be through recognising notable performance over a long period of time, or exceptional performance in a specific situation. Stanley believes that those that run studs will appreciate that they could not do so without such magnificent people and the award is small in comparison to the hard work undertaken by employees. 

Open to any person currently employed on a stud farm within England, Wales, or Scotland, nominations can be made by an employer, line manager, colleague, or client. Ron Lott, nominated by Shadwell Stud’s Stud Manager Paul Holdsworth, was this year’s worthy winner of the Stud Employee Award at the TBA’s Flat Breeders’ Awards Evening in September. 

Ron was chosen from six shortlisted nominees, received a £2,000 cash prize and was presented with an engraved perpetual trophy in the form of a Charlie Langton Bronze. The remaining five shortlisted nominees, Bev Woodley, Greg Hooley, John Rice, David Gardner and Antonia Neal, each received £250 and a certificate to recognise their achievement. 

“Ron commenced his career in the industry as a stallion handler at the age of 26 in 1981, working for Sir John Musker and joined the Shadwell team upon its purchase of the estate in 1984,” said Holdsworth. “Initially working at Melton Paddocks, the first stallion he looked after was the great Green Desert – the pair of them moved to Nunnery upon its completion at the end of 1988. 

“An outstanding horseman, Ron has proved this time and time again with colts starting their stud careers, having the unique blend of skills and understanding that is vital in the safe and successful management of the transition from racehorse to stallion. 

“His devotion to the health and welfare of the horses in his care knows no bounds and this was no more evident when Unfuwain, his favourite stallion, was nearing the end of his days. Dedicating his time to this great horse, he sat up and nursed him through radiation treatment, colic surgeries even sitting up in the early hours of some cold February nights to be at his side until the end.

“One of Ron’s main attributes would be that despite fulfilling his role for over 40 years, he has never grown tired or lost any interest for his job and his enthusiasm has a positive impact on all those that he meets. Ron is keen to nurture and pass on his knowledge to the scores of students that have worked at Shadwell and is very much a father figure, who retains a delightful mix of traditional values with the ability to get the very best out of those around him.

“Some might say that you could always hear him before you see him, but when you did, he would always have the biggest smile on his face and always makes people feel welcome and included, no matter who they were.”

At the awards ceremony in early September, which was held at Chippenham Park, Ron said: “I couldn’t have had a better job in my life, it has been a great job and I would like to thank Shadwell for nominating me. There is a load of people in the industry who deserve this award, anyone who works in the industry does. I’d like to thank Sheikh Hamdan for standing such good stallions and the staff at Shadwell, they have been brilliant – it is a big family environment.”

When asked by host Gina Bryce what had bought him the most pride over the years, Ron replied: “Just handling these good horses - when they finish racing you are very lucky to get a good stallion, to handle them, to see them come along. Also, at my age, to see the young lads coming through, working with such enthusiasm with the stallions. We always have a good bit of banter and it’s made it a special job.”