The Australian Turf Club’s Security and Risk team has won a major national award for a wide range of work in the local community and across the club’s four Sydney metropolitan racecourses.

The ATC team was awarded best In-House Security Team at the Australian Security Industry Association Limited 2014 National Awards for Excellence at The Ivy Ballroom in Sydney.

Judges praised the team’s work for a range of ”best practice’’ initiatives at Royal Randwick, Rosehill Gardens, Canterbury Park and Warwick Farm.

Regular visits by the Mounted Security division to nursing homes, local community centres and special workshops was a key part of the ATC’s award submission.

Among other areas recognised were strategic planning for risk reviews and crisis and emergency management, security alert and escalation planning in counter terrorism, and business continuity planning inclusive of Hendra Virus risk management.

Judges also praised planning around the Royal Randwick Redevelopment, collaboration with the NSW Police for project “Eyewatch” at Rosehill Gardens and the ATC’s Mounted Security division at major events.

The Security and Risk team was also recognised for compliance with liquor harm minimisation and responsible service of alcohol, and collaboration with Racing NSW’s Surveillance and Integrity Unit.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager of Operations Lynell Peck said the Club was honoured to be recognized for its work in helping the local community and making its four racecourses as safe as possible for all of its customers, clients, staff and racing participants.

“We are proud of the work which for very good reason is not always seen by many people in a wide range of areas that touch our racecourses and operations on race days and non race days,’’ Ms Peck said.

“We are especially thrilled with the recognition of the work the Mounted Security team does in the local community in visiting the elderly and those with special needs who get such a kick out of getting up close with our beautiful thoroughbreds.

The ATC was previously awarded with the Highly Commended accolade in the category of Special Security Event or Project for its Mounted Security in 2012. Previously the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) security team was the winner of the same national award (In-House security) category in 2010.