Congratulations to John Bottomley, travelling head lad at Ollie’s Pears Racing in Malton, for winning the Dedication to Racing Award at last night’s Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards. It’s fantastic that this national award should go one of our local stables. John won the award because, over sixty years, he has worked in racing, he has been a model of dedication, loyalty and commitment to his work and to the horses in his care. In any racing stables it is the staff which make the difference I know that John’s wealth of experience and knowledge of racing have helped countless colleagues down the years and he is always keen to help younger members of staff who are starting out and in need of guidance. His patience, kindness and good humour have made him an irreplaceable part of the team at Ollie Pears Racing, just the latest chapter in a life which has been devoted to the thoroughbred.
