When I joined Hereford Racecourse in June 2016 one of the first challenges was to form a team that were capable of rebuilding the business and shared the vision and journey we were embarking on.

I also soon met a wonderful local man that worked at the racecourse as a casual member of staff, Caradog Jones, or 'Crad' to those that know him.

A former Regimental Sergeant Major, it is hard to believe that Crad is capable of barking military orders as he is one of the kindest and softest spoken people I know.

From power washing to painting, clearing snow to painting fences Crad does it all but most of all he does it with a spring and pride in his step and humour in his manner.

It is rare, if ever, that you see Crad and don’t walk away smiling or laughing.

Racecourses around the country rely on casual labour for the bulk of raceday positions, be they employed direct or through agencies. Parked by stewards, buying tickets from casuals at the entrance, betting with the Tote and buying food and drink from agency catering staff.

It is soon easy to see that racegoers in fact very rarely engage with the racecourse’s full time, permanent team of staff.

That is why the local team of staff is so important and why “everyone needs a Crad” – he wants to get it right for us and we want to get it right for racegoers.

Last week was the Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards which celebrated the people who work so hard behind the scenes. The success of so many trainers and studs is attributable to the team behind them, and more often than not you will hear winning trainers crediting a horse’s success to the team back at the yard as they know that without the staff which ride the horses every day and get to know the horses so well that their job would be even harder.

At Hereford, for every race during the season we present a prize to the winner of the Best Turned Out Horse award, supported by cash in some instances from the sponsor, which is small recognition for their hard work and dedication to help make the sport happen. Not all racecourses do that, and we are proud at Hereford to acknowledge and reward their hard work.