If a racehorse isn’t among the tiny percentage who join the breeding stock, their retirement from racing can sometimes be uncertain, or even unfortunate. But thanks to people like Lee Purchase and Jane Gollan, the old, the slow, the injured and the indifferent are increasingly receiving the after-care they deserve.

Lee and Jane have between them rehomed hundreds of former racehorses and, for both, the GSSSA offers recognition ahead of any reward.

“The Stud and Stable Staff Awards serve an amazing purpose for the little people of racing,” says Lee, who works full-time as a stable hand for Victorian trainer Darren Weir. “We all pretty much do what we do for the love of it, the love of horses, and if I was lucky enough to receive an award it would all go toward finding new homes for them.”