The trio enjoyed remarkable success, often together, in the 2018-19 season, which was celebrated at Newcastle Racecourse.

Gibbons rode 137 winners, including 18 on his home track to claim the Newcastle premiership. He went well beyond his previous best of 79 to finish second in NSW and fifth in Australia.

Lees also soared well past his previous best, winning 249 races to finish fourth in Australia. They included 29 wins at home to claim the Newcastle title.

Like Lees, Australian Bloodstock earned the achiever award again. The company, headed by Luke Murrell and Jamie Lovett, had group 1 victories with Brave Smash (Manikato Stakes), Shraaoh (Sydney Cup) and Danceteria (Grosser Dallmayr-Preis).

It was the first time the award had gone to three parties in the one season.

"Each of the winners enjoyed an unprecedented season of success and all deserved the accolade," NJC chief Matt Benson said.

"It's truly indicative of the way the racing industry in Newcastle is going from strength to strength - and every indication is that it's only going to get better."

Lees-trained In Her Time, owned and bred by Novocastrian Peter Brown, was named Newcastle horse of the year after winning the group 1 Lightning Stakes.

Jockey Christian Reith claimed the Bill Wade Medal and trainer John O'Shea the Max Lees Medal for the best strike-rates at Newcastle.

Sammie Clenton was also honoured with the inaugural Rising Star award after her amazing comeback to riding.

Clenton had 44 winners for the season after returning in March from more than two years on the sidelines following two major race falls and becoming a mother for the first time.

Others recognised on the night were Robbie Dolan for claiming the Newcastle apprentices' premiership and Lees, jockey Chad Lever and apprentice Mikayla Weir for winning the Cessnock titles.