It is an unfortunate fact of racing life that not all horses can keep up.

But thanks to people like Lee Purchase and Nikki Cook, those thoroughbreds who can’t make the grade don’t get left behind.

Lee and Nikki are the finalists in the Care and Passion category of the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, and both women are devoted to creating new lives and finding new homes for ex-racehorses.

Between them they have rehomed or retrained hundreds of horses, and they’ve done so without external funding and without being asked to.

For both Purchase and Cook, the Godolphin-sponsored awards offer recognition ahead of any reward, not only for them, but for every worker in an industry where the focus is often dominated by the front-line players.

“The stud and stable staff awards serve an amazing purpose for the little people of racing,” said Lee, who also works full-time as a stable hand for trainer Darren Weir.