'People who come here tend to stay - I think that says a lot' - award winner Kelly Stevens on life at Littleton

It was only when Kelly Stevens reached the very final stages of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards that the significance of it all began to sink in.

At York racecourse on Monday, the long-serving member of Littleton Stud’s team came out on top in the stud staff category, just ahead of Fiona McGlone (Hascombe & Valiant) and Kim Skolfield (Newsells Park).

Stevens learned of the initial news through David Bowe, the manager of Jeff Smith’s nursery near Winchester with whom she has worked for 18 years.

She says: "When David first said he was nominating me I thought, 'Wow, okay', then he phoned and said I’d made the top ten, which again I thought, 'Okay'. So when he phoned and said I’d made the top three, I thought, ’Is this some kind of practical joke?’ It would have been a really mean one!

"I was blown away by the nomination, then even getting to the final three . . . I think my word of the evening was just, 'Wow'."

She continues: "To get recognised for the hard work you put in day-to-day is very special. I think you forget all the little things that you do, it’s only when people highlight it that maybe you realise it. I don’t consider it anything out of the ordinary because it’s just my job."

Oddly enough, Stevens found her way into the thoroughbred industry purely by chance. Growing up in the suburbs of Portsmouth, she had loved animals and persuaded her parents to let her ride as a child. Her background, however, had really been with sport horses.

"I always had an interest in horses, biomechanics and conformation," she explains. "I’d moved back to Hampshire and saw they were advertising for someone to do 'sitting up' [with mares]. It was something I hadn’t done before and thought I would give it a go.

Kelly Stevens with her trophy, alongside William Buick and Rishi PersadCredit: Dan Abraham/TIEA Awards

"It was only for a few months, I then moved into part-time work and then next thing you know, I’m in the racing industry, which I’d never really looked at before. 

"When you’re in it, it’s something you get addicted to and you can’t help but want to explore a bit more about it. Horses were always something I did as a hobby. I vowed I’d never do it as a career, and now, here we are!"

Littleton, Stevens says, is "a little family, a nice community feel" and provides variety without rigid hierarchy. Everyone in the team gets involved across the board, from dealing with horses to maintenance work.

"We foal the horses here and have them until they leave us as two-year-olds, so, having the luxury of seeing our horses on the racecourse is a lovely thing to be able to do when we can," she says. 

"And also watching the people grow. I love trying to work out people’s learning styles. One size doesn’t fit all but I like seeing what makes people tick, what buttons to press to get the best out of them. Once you can understand how to do that, people then grow in confidence and it’s lovely to see. 

"People who come here tend to stay. I think that says a lot, not only about the working environment but the environment that David brings as well."

Smith’s purple silks have been carried by horses such as the outstanding sprinter Lochsong and the dynasty she established. Another one is perhaps closer to Stevens’ heart.

"Although we’re very small here, we seem to have some iconic horses," she says .

"There have been so many but I’m very fond of the Arabian Queen [2015 Juddmonte International winner] bloodline. She was here as a foal and then I watched her go out and have her racing career. 

"Barshiba was still in training when I first came, she had Arabian Queen, and then we had Spirit Mixer and See The Fire from her. There’ll be four generations of one family and I think that’s one of the things that keeps me here.

Arabian Queen: Juddmonte winner is a personal favouriteCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"But I’m fond of them all, to be honest. They all have their individual personalities and working them out and what makes them tick is another part of it. I’ve also been fortunate to have rehomed lots of them as well. To see them go on to other careers is great."

Stevens is self-evidently a very highly regarded member of the Littleton staff, whose positive attitude and empathy has endeared her to others. Fortunately, they should be able to make the most of those assets for plenty of time to come.

"I think I said in one of my interviews on Monday that I’d done 18 years and I’d happily do another 18," she says.

"I did stay off social media for a while, it was quite overwhelming and quite bizarre. I’m a private person so it’s a bit unusual for me, but lovely as well."

Along with this deserved exposure and recognition comes a generous prize from sponsors Godolphin – £5,000 personally and the same again to Littleton. Stevens reckons she can put it to use.

"I think I should take my long-suffering husband away," she says. 

"It was quite weird because the awards were in York and I’m considering New York as I’ve never been. Maybe Nashville, too. We’re big live music fans, so it would be nice to see a bit of the scene out there."

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