The Australian Jockey Club Limited has won the highly prestigious National In-House Security Team accolade at the Australian Security Industry Association Limited 2010 Awards for Excellence held in Melbourne.

The AJC scored the highest marks across a range of categories including strategic planning, risk management, innovation and implementation and was crowned with the major award ahead of national and multi-national corporations.

It was recognised for its strategy for the responsible service of alcohol, its CCTV system which was piloted during the staging of World Youth Day 08 and the bio-security response to the Equine Influenza epidemic.

In-house security was introduced to the AJC three years ago in a project led by Head of Security and Risk Shane Brady to drive the strategic operations at both Royal Randwick and Warwick Farm Racecourses.

“This is a fantastic result for Royal Randwick which is the only thoroughbred racing venue in Australia with its own in-house security team,” said AJC Chief Executive Darren Pearce.

“The AJC is renowned as a preferred destination for its special events and race days and this award duly recognises the outstanding quality of the venue services particularly the strategies of security operations, safety facilitation and the responsible service of alcohol.

“I would like to congratulate AJC Executive Director Lynell Peck and her team for all of their hard work and professionalism and for winning another prestigious award for the Club.”

Mounted security patrols were deployed at Royal Randwick over the three Saturdays of its successful Autumn Carnival where more than 65,000 people attended.

“This was a first for a commercial venue in the Southern Hemisphere to take such preventative measures and to take the lead to enhance services and security for our members and guests whilst upholding the safety ethic of the Club,” Pearce said.

Previously the award has been won by Westpac and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.