THE Aga Khan’s family has been racing and breeding thoroughbreds at the highest level for 102 years and Ireland has played a big part in that success story,

Last weekend, the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners [AIRO] acknowledged the Aga Khan’s contribution to the sport here by inducting the owner-breeder into the AIRO Hall of Fame.

From Shergar to Harzand, right up to this year’s Oaks winner Ezeliya, the current Aga Khan maintains a very strong connection to Irish racing. He is also the major shareholder in Goffs and was to the fore in helping the Curragh Racecourse plan and finance its redevelopment.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan was on hand to accept the honour on behalf of her father. Interviewed by Jane Mangan, she said: “I just want to thank the team that’s here, and everyone in Ireland and elsewhere, who made this possible.”

Bill Durkan has been involved in racing all his life, first as an amateur rider, then as an owner, trainer, breeder and race sponsor.

Still as enthusiastic as ever, and followed into the sport by his many of his children and grandchildren, Bill was a popular recipient of the Racing Personality Award.

Handicappers should not be popular with racehorse owners as it is their job to ensure that handicap winners don’t win again, quipped master of ceremonies Richard Pugh last weekend.

So it says something about Senior National Hunt Handicapper Andrew Shaw, that owners voted to give him a Services to the Industry Award to mark his upcoming retirement following 30 years in the job.

THE AWARD WINNERS