At the 47th Annual International Conference held in Paris, France on Monday, October 7, Louis ROMANET, IFHA Chaiman and Juan Carlos CAPELLI, LONGINES' Vice President, Head of International Marketing, presented the first "LONGINES and IFHA International Award of Merit" to owner, breeder, and trainer Jim BOLGER.
Mr ROMANET said, "With such an impressive career and with the victories of Dawn Approach and Trading Leather this year, Jim BOLGER was an obvious candidate. He is an accomplished man covering all sides of the industry with great success. He has also been an influential educator for jockeys such as Tony MCCOY and trainers like Aidan O'BRIEN and Willie MULLINS."

Mr CAPELLI said "It is a great honor for us to present the first LONGINES and IFHA International Award of Merit to Jim BOLGER. In December, we will also present awards to the connections of the top three horses in the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings at the gala dinner of the Hong Kong International Races."
Mr BOLGER, upon receiving the award, said, "I'm really honored to accept this and I'm overwhelmed by the occasion. I had no idea I'd ever win something like this. I've won some awards inside and outside my country but I'm really overwhelmed…I would also like to say that I realize the importance of the international federations coming together as you do and nothing but good can come from that."

The LONGINES and IFHA International Award of Merit is presented to an outstanding international personality of the horseracing industry selected by a committee including the IFHA Chaiman and Vice Chairmen and Longines' Vice President. Mr BOLGER is the first recipient of the prestigious award.