18 Feb, 2024
Art Wilson, a longtime member of NTWAB, died Feb. 18 near his home in Victorville, CA at age 71. Wilson gallantly fought a form of blood cancer for more than 10 years. Scheduled to attend the Winter Corgi Nationals at Santa Anita, instead he was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Apple Valley late in the afternoon the day before his death. He succumbed to heart failure at 3:30 a.m. First introduced to racing by his late father, Wilson fell in love with the game as a railbird and relished the opportunity to cover the sport dating back to the mid-1980s. He was active as recently as Feb. 10 when he covered the G3 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita for the Southern California News Group, a consortium that includes the LA Daily News, Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Long Beach Independent and many others. In addition to covering stakes action and writing feature stories, Wilson wrote a weekly column for the So Cal News Group, with his final contribution a terrific piece on the late Toby Keith that ran on Feb. 16. “Art was alert and coherent and then he went quickly this morning from heart failure,” said his brother and frequent racetrack confidant, Eddie Wilson. “He had stabilized, and when I left to come back home last night at 10:30 he was watching the race replays on his cell phone.” Born Nov. 5, 1952 in Winchester, Massachusetts, Wilson moved with his family at age two to Azusa and later settled in Glendora, which is about 12 miles from The Great Race Place.He was a 1970 graduate of Glendora High School and attended Citrus Community College and Cal Poly Pomona. At age 20, he became mesmerized by 1973 Triple Crown contender Sham, who won the Santa Anita Derby with Laffit Pincay, Jr. up by 2 1/2 lengths over odds-on favorite Linda’s Chief. Unfortunately, Sham was the same age as Triple Crown winner Secretariat. “Art was a great guy and he loved this place,” said FanDuel’s Kurt Hoover in the Santa Anita press box. “I was just talking to him a couple weeks ago and he told me he got (the University of) Houston at 12 to 1 to win the NCAA tournament. He paid attention, and his last column on Toby Keith was without a doubt one of his best. He’ll be sorely missed.” Deeply appreciative of racing’s history, Wilson would often seek out veteran trainers such as past legends Mel Stute and Bruce Headley, with whom he had solid, long-term relationships that provided his readers with unique racing insight from Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Del Mar, Los Alamitos or one of his favorite stops, the LA County Fair in Pomona. Bob Baffert was also on Wilson’s speed-dial list of horsemen and according to Eddie Wilson, “Bob was in regular contact with my brother, checking on his health and how he was doing. It meant a lot to him.” Beyond racing, Wilson’s favorite baseball team was the Texas Rangers, who finally won a World Series last year. His all-time favorite player was Frank Howard, 1960 Rookie of the Year with the Dodgers and later a fence-buster with both the Washington Senators and Detroit Tigers. Wilson gleefully explained that one of his biggest thrills in life was being able to speak via telephone with Howard, a two-time American League home run champion, during spring training last year. Howard would pass away at 87 on Oct. 23. Wilson was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his brother Eddie, sister Deborah Wills (Charles), nephew Cody Wills and his wife Kimberley, as well as cousins James Costa, Mark Costa and Heather McAvoy. A memorial service will be held next month at Oakdale Mortuary in Glendora, with specific information to come in the next few days.. --Edited Santa Anita release
By Tom Law 14 Feb, 2024
Good morning. Thanks to those who tuned in for the NTWAB general membership meeting last week to discuss issues related to the 2023 Eclipse Awards. We had about 60 members on the teleconference meeting. In the wake of our meeting and comments made in the media about the Eclipse Awards process, NTWAB Vice President Greg Hall and I participated in an Eclipse Awards Steering Committee meeting Tuesday morning. The NTWAB, along with the other members of the committee, received an apology from NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney on how the decision to present the Eclipse Award of Merit was handled and the reaction it caused. We also received a promise that any decisions related to the special or merit Eclipse Awards would require a vote and a unanimous result to move forward. Abstentions will be accepted, but only for a direct conflict of interest. This promise follows years (decades perhaps) of unwritten tradition of the committee that any Special or Merit honors handed out would be after overwhelming approval of the Steering Committee. The longstanding unwritten process now is formalized, and this accomplishes the direction Greg and I were given by the board to get concrete assurances about process in the future. The other area of concern has been the change in the media contest rules to allow work created by industry publicity vehicles. While no agreement was reached by the steering committee on this, everyone agreed to discuss the matter further to work toward a resolution, hopefully in time for our meeting this spring. These issues first surfaced back in September, continued through the fall and early winter, and Greg and I would like to thank the NTWAB board members for their time spent discussing the issues. We had several board meetings, along with one that included NTWAB past presidents, who we also thank for their input. Thanks as well to anyone who shared comments after last week’s meeting. We are compiling all of those comments to share with the board for later discussion. Long story short, we believe the NTWAB should continue its participation as a presenter of the Eclipse Awards with Daily Racing Form and the NTRA as we believe one of our major issues has now been resolved and the other will be discussed. The NTWAB has been on the steering committee since the inception in 1971, and many of our members have been recognized through the years, including writers Tim Layden and Sean Clancy just a few weeks ago. A few other important items of business: A spreadsheet of the 2023 first-place Eclipse Award votes of NTWAB members in good standing is attached . Publishing our votes continues a longstanding tradition of maintaining our transparency both to our members and the Thoroughbred industry. We also plan to inquire with some members who were eligible to vote and did not. The Breeders’ Cup communications team would like some input from NTWAB members on their on-site media experience from start to finish at last year’s event at Santa Anita Park. In their words, “they’re evaluating every aspect of the entire experience and would appreciate candid feedback to take under consideration.” Please pass along any comments, feedback, etc. to me by February 18 and I’ll pass them along. We’ll be in touch in the coming weeks ahead with details about our Derby Week meeting (traditionally either that Wednesday or Thursday). Finally, you should have already heard from Jennifer Kelly about 2024 dues. Thanks to those who have already paid. The deadline for dues payments is August 1. Thanks for your time. Have a great rest of the week. Tom Law NTWAB President February 14, 2024
By Dick Downey 26 Jan, 2024
Twitter posts @NTWAB by Dick Downey Fans voted the Moment of the Year, revealed earlier this week, to the stirring repeat win of the BigAss Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Cody's Wish as the late Cody Dorman and his family looked on. Our hearts go out to the Dorman family. NTWAB congratulates all of tonight's #EclipseAwards winners, starting with champion 2-year-old male Fierceness, who capped off his 2023 campaign with an upset win of the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Fierceness is the third Repole Stable 2 year old Champion after Uncle Mo and last year’s Champion Forte. FIERCENESS CONNECTIONS AS OF LAST START Jockey: John R. Velazquez Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher Owner: Repole Stable Breeder: Repole Stable, Inc. City of Light - Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty The champion 2-year-old filly is the well-deserved Just F Y I. She won coast-to-coast Grade I races in 2023, the NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita after taking the Frizette Stakes at the "Belmont at the Big A" meet. #EclipseAwards JUST F Y I CONNECTIONS AS OF LAST START Jockey: Junior Alvarado Trainer: William I. Mott Owner: George Krikorian Breeder: George Krikorian Justify - Star Act, by Street Cry (IRE) Each year sees a new crop of Apprentice Jockeys who are given a weight edge as they start their careers. This year's award for best Apprentice Jockey goes to Axel Concepcion at the #EclipseAwards. The 2023 Horseplayer of the Year, presented at the #EclipseAwards, is Paul Calia of Kansas City. He was best of of 779 entries in the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship and also finished fourth. It was the first contest that Calia ever won. In all, he took home $950,000. Steeplechase racing has a rich history going back to 1752 Ireland, and it continues in the modern age. The 2023 champion Steeplechase horse is Merry Maker. #EclipseAwards We have awesome Media #EclipseAward winners this year, and you can read about them in detail at https://www.ntwab.org/ntwab-members-headline-media-eclipse-awards Media #EclipseAward - Writing – Feature/Commentary – NTWAB member Tim Layden, NBCSports.com – "Maple Leaf Mel and the long arc of a horse racing tragedy," Nov. 1, 2023 https://www.nbcsports.com/news/maple-leaf-mel-and-the-long-arc-of-a-horse-racing-tragedy Media #EclipseAward - Writing- News/Enterprise – NTWAB member Sean Clancy, The Saratoga Special – “The Worst Test,” Aug. 6, 2023 See p. 17 at https://thisishorseracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/08-06-23.pdf Media #EclipseAward - Multimedia – TDN Writers’ Room Podcast – “Wade and Carson Yost,” September 20, 2023; Susan Finley, Publisher, Thoroughbred Daily News https://vimeo.com/876413676 Media #EclipseAward - Live Television Programming – NBC Sports – “The Breeders’ Cup World Championships,” Nov. 3-4, 2023; Lindsay Schanzer, Senior Producer Media #EclipseAward - Feature Television Programming – Woodbine Entertainment: “SECRETARIAT The Last Race,” – Oct. 8, 2023. Airing on TSN (The Sports Network) in Canada. Tammy Gillanders, Producer https://players.brightcove.net/61382429001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6340430983112 Media #EclipseAward - Photography – Carolyn Simancik – “Trading Horse Paint,” (Cody’s Wish/National Treasure battle in Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile) The Press Box, Nov. 4, 2023 https://www.ntra.com/wp-content/uploads/Eclipse-Awards-Media-Photo.jpeg A most accomplished recipient of this year's Special #EclipseAward for Career Excellence is retired NTWAB member Tom Hammond. Here's the full release about him: https://www.ntwab.org/tom-hammond-named-for-special-eclipse-award-for-career-excellence Tom is not only talented but gracious and has always been a tremendous ambassador of our sport. The champion male sprinter is Elite Power, who in 2023 went 4-for-5 with a second, cultimated with victory in the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint. His campaign ran from February to November after winning the Sprint Eclipse for 2022. #EclipseAwards ELITE POWER CONNECTIONS AS OF LAST START Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr. Trainer: William I. Mott Owner: Juddmonte Breeder: Alpha Delta Stables, LLC Curlin - Broadway's Alibi, by Vindication The champion Female Sprinter of the year is Goodnight Olive. In 2023 she won the Grade 1 Madison Stakes, Grade 2 Bed o' Roses Stakes and the Grade 1 PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Like Elite Power, she won the 2022 Eclipse in this category. GOODNIGHT OLIVE CONNECTIONS AS OF LAST START Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr. Trainer: Chad C. Brown Owner: First Row Partners and Team Hanley Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC Ghostzapper - Salty Strike, by Smart Strike #EclipseAwards Outstanding Trainer of the Year at the #EclipseAwards is Hall of Famer Bill Mott. He trained three Breeders' Cup winners in 2023: Elite Power, Cody's Wish and Just F Y I. Mott also won this award in 1995, 1996 and 2011. The top Male Turf Horse #EclipseAward goes to Up to the Mark, winner of the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic and was a close second in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. He won five races in all last year. UP TO THE MARK CONNECTIONS AS OF LAST START Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr. Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC Breeder: Ramspring Farm Not This Time - Belle's Finale, by Ghostzapper The #EclipseAward for champion Female Turf Horse goes to Inspiral (GB), who got up in the final strides to courageously win the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. The victory came after back-to-back Group 1 wins in Great Britain and France. INSPIRAL (GB) CONNECTIONS AS OF LAST START Jockey: Lanfranco Dettori Trainer: John H. M. Gosden Owner: Cheveley Park Stud, Ltd. Breeder: Cheveley Park Stud Limited Frankel (GB) - Starscope (GB), by Selkirk Jockey of the Year honors go to Irad Ortiz, Jr, who in 2023 totaled 366 wins with three Breeders' Cup wins (White Abarrio, Elite Power and Goodnight Olive). This is his fifth #EclipseAward, having also won in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022. The 2023 #EclipseAward for top owner goes to Godolphin, who also won in 2009, 2012, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Leader in earnings, Godolphin campaigned FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF winner Master of the Seas and BigAss Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Cody's Wish. Godolphin was also named top Breeder at the #EclipseAwards after a truly outstanding year. It's the third consecutive year Godolphin has won this distinction. The #EclipseAward for top 3-year-old Male is won by Arcangelo, whose most notable achievements were winning the Triple Crown final leg Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. ARCANGELO CONNECTIONS AS OF LAST START Jockey: Javier Castellano Trainer: Jena M. Antonucci Owner: Blue Rose Farm LLC Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation Arrogate - Modeling, by Tapit The #EclipseAward for Top 3-year-old Female is presented to Pretty Mischievous who won three consecutive Grade 1s, the Longines Kentucky Oaks, the Acorn Stakes Presented by Great Jones Distilling Co. and the Test Stakes. PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS CONNECTIONS AS OF LAST RACE Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione Trainer: Brendan P. Walsh Owner: Godolphin, LLC Breeder: Godolphin Into Mischief - Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit The 2023 champion Older Dirt Female Idiomatic compiled an amazing eight wins from nine starts with a second, including wins in the Breeders' Cup Distaff and the Juddmonte Spinster to end her year. She ran to three Grade 1 wins, a Grade 2 win and a Grade 3 win. IDIOMATIC CONNECTIONS AS OF LAST START Jockey: Florent Geroux Trainer: Brad H. Cox Owner: Juddmonte Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Inc. Curlin - Lockdown, by First Defence Cody's Wish is the winner in the Older Dirt Male category at the #EclipseAwards, as well as Horse of the Year. His accomplishments include winning his second consecutive BigAss Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Kylie Dorman was invited to the lecturn to present the final award. CODY'S WISH CONNECTIONS AS OF LAST RACE Jockey: Junior Alvarado Trainer: William I. Mott Owner: Godolphin, LLC Breeder: Godolphin Curlin - Dance Card, by Tapit
24 Jan, 2024
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB), and Daily Racing Form announced today that for the second year in a row, the story of Cody’s Wish has been voted the 2023 FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year based on the results of nearly 4,000 votes cast via Twitter and an online poll. With his namesake Cody Dorman and his family standing by, Godolphin's Cody's Wish won the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile for the second consecutive year in a gutty effort down the stretch. The FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year will be recognized during the 53rd Annual Eclipse Awards Presented by FanDuel, John Deere, Keeneland, and The Jockey Club at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida on January 25. In addition to FanDuel TV and RTN, the ceremony will be streamed live on multiple outlets including: NTRA.com , americasbestracing.net , bloodhorse.com, DRF.com , equibase.com , Thoroughbreddailynews.com , and NTRA’s YouTube channel. Thirteen eligible 2023 moments were selected to illustrate the wide range of equine achievements and human emotions, as well as exceptional displays of athleticism. Voting concluded Jan. 17. Past Moments of the Year The first-ever “NTRA Moment of the Year” was the touching scene between Charismatic and jockey Chris Antley following the 1999 Belmont Stakes. The following year’s winner was the stretch run of the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Classic when Tiznow held on for a dramatic victory over Giant’s Causeway. Tiznow won again the following year as fans selected his stirring repeat victory in the Classic. In 2002, fans cited the passing of the last living Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew. In 2003, the popular Kentucky Derby win by Funny Cide was selected. Birdstone’s upset win in the Belmont Stakes over Smarty Jones took down top honors for 2004. In 2005, fans selected Afleet Alex’s spectacular victory in the Preakness Stakes. Voters in 2006 chose Barbaro’s struggle to recover from his Preakness injury at the New Bolton Center. The 2007 Moment of the Year was a historic victory by the filly Rags to Riches over Curlin in the Belmont Stakes. In 2008, it was Zenyatta’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. Zenyatta also named in 2009 as fans selected her triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. In 2010, fans selected Blame’s narrow Breeders’ Cup Classic victory over Zenyatta. Drosselmeyer’s hard-fought win over Game on Dude in the Breeders’ Cup Classic was the public’s choice for 2011. For 2012, the recovery of Paynter from near-deadly battles with laminitis and colitis captured the hearts of voters. In 2013, fans recognized Mucho Macho Man’s nose victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic for his popular connections. The 2014 award went to California Chrome’s dominant win in Kentucky Derby 140. In 2015 there was a landslide vote in favor of American Pharoah’s historic Triple Crown-clinching Belmont Stakes win. In 2016, California Chrome was again part of the winning moment – a dramatic Dubai World Cup victory that came as Victor Espinoza’s saddle slipped underneath him. In 2017, the tragic fire at San Luis Rey and the industry’s response led the way among the votes cast while Justify’s sweep of the Classics to become just the 13 th Triple Crown winner was the clear pick the following year. In 2019, Maximum Security’s historic disqualification in the 145th Kentucky Derby – the first winner in Derby history to be demoted for a racing infraction— earned the distinction. In 2020, Authentic’s historic win in the 146 th Kentucky Derby, run in September and without fans due to the coronavirus pandemic, was voted as the FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year. Breeders’ Cup success had eluded Japanese runners as evidenced by an 0-13 record heading into the 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. That changed dramatically on Breeders’ Cup Saturday when Marche Lorraine (45-1/Distaff) and Loves Only You (4-1/Filly & Mare Turf) each won for trainer Yoshito Yahagi. The victories by the Japanese duo was voted the 2021 FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year. In 2022, the uplifting story between a boy and a horse that swept across America had the ultimate ending when Cody’s Wish won the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in dramatic fashion at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. With Cody Dorman and family in attendance, Cody’s Wish gave a winning performance that continues to warm the hearts of all who watched in amazement. This story was voted the 2022 FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year.
18 Jan, 2024
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) today announced that Tom Hammond, whose storied career of more than 50 years in broadcasting, television production, and numerous contributions to the Thoroughbred industry, will be honored with the Special Eclipse Award for Career Excellence. Presentation of the award to Hammond, a retired NTWAB member, will be at the 53 rd Annual Eclipse Awards Dinner and Ceremony at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida on Jan. 25. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Hammond made a remarkable career as one of the nation’s top broadcasters, most prominently as host and anchor for NBC Sports’ broadcasts of the Triple Crown races and Breeders’ Cup World Championships; and his coverage of 13 Olympic Games, anchoring broadcasts of figure skating, speed skating, track and field, gymnastics, and other sports. He also was a play-by-play announcer on NFL games and the lead voice for Notre Dame Football on NBC. "I have wanted to be a part of the Thoroughbred industry since I was 15 years old, though I could never have dreamed that involvement would come primarily as an announcer,” said Hammond. “The improbable nature of the Award makes it even sweeter. As I look back on my over 50-year career, I see the many opportunities that the Thoroughbred world has provided to me. No question that I consider the Career Excellence Award to be one of the most meaningful of my life." “We are excited for Tom to receive such well-deserved special recognition,” said Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports. “From the 1984 Breeders’ Cup World Championships and for the next 30-plus years, Tom was a fixture on NBC Sports’ horse racing coverage, documenting the thrilling competition, and telling the memorable stories that make the sport so compelling. But whether he was on the Turn 1 set at his beloved Churchill Downs, courtside, or in the broadcast booth, what most distinguishes Tom is that he was a terrific teammate and made everyone around him better.” Hammond’s passion for Thoroughbred racing evolved early when he earned an animal science degree from the University of Kentucky (UK), specializing in equine genetics, and developed a keen interest in Thoroughbred pedigrees. This interest followed that of his grandfather, Thomas Poe Cooper, who was a former dean of the UK College of Agriculture and a former acting president of UK. Hammond's broadcasting career began with WVLK Radio in Lexington, where he was news and sports director. In 1970 and for the next 10 years, he was sports director for WLEX-TV. It was at WLEX, and through Hammond Productions, he founded “The Winner’s Circle,” a half-hour weekly Thoroughbred program focused on the news and highlights of major races around the country. Hammond Productions specialized in video productions aimed at the equine industry and pioneered the use of video in the marketing of horses at the sales. It was also during this period that Hammond began his association with Keeneland, as an announcer at its premier bloodstock auctions, and at Thoroughbred sales in 16 other states. Hammond’s 34-year relationship with NBC Sports dates back to the network’s regional college basketball broadcasts in the late 1970s. His big break came in 1984 when he was hired on what was intended to be a one-time-only basis as a reporter for NBC’s telecast of the inaugural Breeders’ Cup at Hollywood Park. That program turned into an annual assignment, blossoming into a wide-ranging network career. Over the next three decades, Hammond was an integral part of NBC Sports, highlighted by horse racing – covering the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes 16 times apiece, and 11 Belmont Stakes, including American Pharoah’s historic Triple Crown victory in 2015. Hammond was a part of multiple Eclipse Award-winning programs for NBC, including the 2022 Feature-Television Eclipse for his narration of the story of Cody Dorman and his bonding with Breeders’ Cup Champion Cody’s Wish. Said NBC Sports Racing Analyst Randy Moss: “When Tom would slide into the host chair a couple of hours before the Kentucky Derby, and 'That Voice' would suddenly fill the airwaves, it was a jolt of adrenaline for everyone on the telecast. It was like, "Okay, here we go!" And not only did he bring pure professionalism and experience, from a racing perspective Tom was unique: he called all those big-time sports, but as a native Kentuckian he knew the most about Thoroughbred racing.” Among his many honors over the years, Hammond is especially proud of receiving an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the UK in 2018. In 2000, Hammond was honored as a distinguished alumnus of UK, and the following year, he was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. Hammond was inducted into the Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor, National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame; a recipient of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Jim McKay Award, and is a member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame. He was also a Thoroughbred Club of America Honor Guest. Hammond and his wife, Sheilagh, have a daughter, Ashley, and two sons, David and Christopher, and six grandchildren.  Edited NTRA release
By Natalie Voss 10 Jan, 2024
By Natalie Voss The National Turf Writers and Broadcasters are pleased to announce the three outlets receiving internship funding assistance for 2024. The organization will assist in funding internship expenses for positions with Thoroughbred Daily News, XBTV and the New York Racing Association. The organization had planned to award $5,000 to two outlets, but was met with a number of quality applications and decided to commit a total of $6,000 to three. The Thoroughbred Daily News’ internship position is already filled and underway, allowing a student from the University of Kentucky to gain experience in producing video and written content, as well as social media marketing. XBTV is currently searching for an intern to work at Santa Anita Park, assisting with morning and afternoon broadcast production, copywriting, social media, and scheduling. The internship will begin Feb. 22 and interested candidates are encouraged to apply by Jan. 15 at this ZipRecruiter link . The organization will also support a broadcast production internship with the New York Racing Association, which runs its summer broadcasts in partnership with FOX Sports. The internship would include assistance with scheduling guests, shooting video content, research for stories, and some shooting and editing for the right candidate. The position will take place at Saratoga Race Course over the summer of 2024. Interested candidates should visit NYRA's careers page here later this year for more information as it becomes available. “Last year we were happy to support two print media-based internship positions, and this year NTWAB is thrilled to assist media outlets in providing broadcast experience to interested students or industry newcomers,” said Natalie Voss, chair of NTWAB’s internship committee. “NTWAB is committed to sustaining the future of our profession by encouraging the creation of learning opportunities in racing media.”
06 Jan, 2024
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced the winners of the 2023 Media Eclipse Awards in six categories, led by several NTWAB members. Writing – Feature/Commentary – NTWAB member Tim Layden, NBCSports.com – "Maple Leaf Mel and the long arc of a horse racing tragedy," Nov. 1, 2023 Writing- News/Enterprise – NTWAB member Sean Clancy, The Saratoga Special – “The Worst Test,” Aug. 6, 2023 Multimedia – TDN Writers’ Room Podcast – “Wade and Carson Yost,” September 20, 2023; Susan Finley, Publisher, Thoroughbred Daily News Live Television Programming – NBC Sports – “The Breeders’ Cup World Championships,” Nov. 3-4, 2023; Lindsay Schanzer, Senior Producer Feature Television Programming – Woodbine Entertainment: “SECRETARIAT The Last Race,” – Oct. 8, 2023. Airing on TSN (The Sports Network) in Canada. Tammy Gillanders, Producer Photography – Carolyn Simancik – “Trading Horse Paint,” (Cody’s Wish/National Treasure battle in Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile) The Press Box, Nov. 4, 2023 Media Eclipse Award winners will be presented their trophies at the 53rd Annual Eclipse Awards Ceremony and Dinner at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida on Thursday, January 25. Feature/Commentary Writing – Tim Layden Layden, a writer-at-large for NBC Sports and NTWAB member, has won his fourth Media Eclipse Award for “Maple Leaf Mel and the Long Arc of a horse racing tragedy," which was published on NBCSports.com on Nov. 1, 2023. Layden related the story of Melanie Giddings, the trainer and cancer survivor of undefeated 3-year-old filly Maple Leaf Mel ― named after Giddings ― who suffered a fatal injury while leading the G1 Test Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 5. Giddings’s love for her horse and dedication to her craft, and the painful memories of the incident, is interspersed in the article with a larger account of equine fatalities that took place at major venues during the past year. Layden, from Simsbury, Conn., also won the Feature/Commentary Eclipse Award in 2022 for “Beneath the Super Bowl’s Turf: The Ghosts of Hollywood Park,” which was published on NBCSports.com. He won his first Eclipse Award in 1987 for Newspaper Writing for Capital Newspapers in Albany, N.Y., and in 2018 for Sports Illustrated, for his Feature/Commentary article on track announcer Charles “Chic” Anderson. "Painfully, horse fatalities have been an ongoing and important narrative in the sport, and we felt it was important to find an access point for that narrative as the 2023 season ended. Maple Leaf Mel's breakdown and death on Whitney Saturday was an especially difficult moment, because of the stage, but also because people inside racing knew that Mel was treated with the best of care. Often we look for villains, in all stories, but we were unlikely to find any here. That's what made the story so complicated and important, and that's why we wanted to tell it.” "It's important to say that this is Melanie Giddings's story. I'm just the messenger. That is always true in journalism, but especially true here. Last August 5 was one of the worst days of Melanie's life, and she entrusted me with her recollections and emotions, for which I am thankful and readers are enlightened and enriched." The winning article can be viewed here . Judges in the Feature/Enterprise category were: Bob Kieckhefer, United Press International racing writer; David Papadopoulos, a senior editor at Bloomberg News; and Robert Yates, who covered racing for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and is a notes writer at Oaklawn Park. News/Enterprise – Sean Clancy Sean Clancy was not originally assigned to cover the Test Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 5, but sprang into action and wrote a news account of the race, the tragic consequences of the fatal accident to Maple Leaf Mel, and the reactions of individuals surrounding the event. Clancy writes of the immediate and incredible sense of loss, and the mixed emotions of trainer Brendan Walsh and his crew, whose filly Pretty Mischievous won the race. Clancy, from Middleburg, Virginia and an NTWAB member, is the co-editor and publisher of The Saratoga Special along with his brother, Joe, which they co-founded in 2001. This is the second Eclipse Award for Clancy, who earned a News/Commentary in 2009 for “Life’s Work,” about his recollections of the late Hall of Fame Trainer Sidney Watters Jr. "Winning a second Eclipse Award and a first for The Saratoga Special is an incredible honor,” said Clancy. “When I was informed, my first call was to my brother Joe. My second call was to Tom Law. I'm sure it was the same way for them. That's the team we have. One is my brother. The other is like a brother. We work together but it's far more than that. Just unbelievable friends who I'm lucky to work with and share the highs and lows of life.” "I wasn't covering the Test. I was meant to cover the Whitney later in the day. I watched it with Tom, as a spectator, a fan. In awe of Maple Leaf Mel and then, like everyone, watched in horror. We both leapt into crisis mode and went to work. Paul Halloran, an integral member of The Special team, was meant to cover the Test. I followed Brendan Walsh, Paul switched to the Whitney and I wound up back at the barn with Brendan. He was honest, open, speaking for all of us, a devastated sport on a devastating afternoon. It was brutal to write but it had to be written. My thoughts are still with Maple Leaf Mel, Melanie Giddings and their team." The winning entry can be viewed here (page 17). Honorable mention in the News/Enterprise category went to NTWAB members Frank Angst and Bob Ehalt for “New York Thunder Breakdown Calls for Further Review,” which appeared on The BloodHorse website on Oct. 3, 2023. Judges in the News/Enterprise category were: Reid Cherner former sports, racing writer and columnist for USA Today; Amanda Duckworth, an independent international communications consultant and journalist with a focus on Thoroughbred racing; and Bill Kolberg, former assistant director of publicity at Santa Anita and Del Mar and published author on Thoroughbred racing. Television – Live Programming – NBC Sports For the fourth consecutive year, NBC Sports has taken the Eclipse Award for Live Television Programming for its broadcast on NBC, Peacock, and the USA Network, of the two-day coverage of the 40 th Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. NBC showcased the captivating action of the World Championships accentuated by the dramatic stretch duel between Cody’s Wish and National Treasure in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) to the dominant performance of White Abarrio in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). To enhance its production, NBC utilized access to approximately 75 video sources, including cameras and feeds; and among other technologies, a special gyro camera on a vehicle inside the rail on the backstretch, providing a live wide-angle perspective as the horses raced with the San Gabriel Mountains as the backdrop, and an RF Super Slo Mo camera, used for the first time on NBC Sports’ horse racing coverage. “We are proud to accept the Eclipse Award for our presentation of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. While the Breeders’ Cup is always one of the most spectacular events of the year to cover, this year – the 40 th running of the World Championships – was a particularly special experience,” said Lindsay Schanzer, NBC Sports Senior Producer. “We relished the opportunity to celebrate the origin and ensuing four-decade run of what has become the capstone of the yearly racing calendar, and were delighted to bring the unforgettable moments of year 40’s champions to audiences worldwide. This two days of racing is an enormous undertaking from a broadcast perspective, and we thank our incredible partners at the Breeders’ Cup, who put their trust in us each year to bring this world-class event to life. We look forward to many more World Championships to come.” NBC Sports’ coverage of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships was produced by Schanzer and Billy Matthews, and directed by Kaare Numme. Amy Zimmerman was the co-producer; Ron Vacarro, VP of Editorial, and NTWAB member John Furlong, the editorial producer. Sam Flood is Executive Producer and President, NBC Sports Production. NBC talent consisted of Host: Ahmed Fareed; Host/Reporter: NTWAB member Britney Eurton; Analysts: Jerry Bailey and NTWAB member Randy Moss; Reporters: NTWAB members Nick Luck and Kenny Rice; Horseback Reporter: NTWAB member Donna Brothers; Handicappers: Eddie Olczyk and NTWAB member Matt Bernier; Insights Analyst: NTWAB member Steve Kornacki; Race Caller: NTWAB member Larry Collmus and Essayist: NTWAB member Tim Layden. Honorable Mention in the Live Television Programming category went to NBC Sports, for “The 149 Kentucky Derby,” which aired on May 6, 2023. Lindsay Schanzer, Senior Producer. Judges in the Live Television Programming category were: Jeannine Edwards, multiple award-winning reporter, and analyst for ESPN from 1995-2018; Dave Johnson, track announcer, television analyst, and race caller for ABC Sports, and now co-host of Down The Stretch on SiriusXM; and Jack Renaud, CBS News Producer, who’s been covering racing since his days at local stations in Lexington and Louisville. Multimedia – TDN Writers' Room Gulf War veteran Wade Yost and his son, Carson, joined TDN Writers’ Room podcast hosts and NTWAB members Bill Finley, Randy Moss, and Zoe Cadman on Sept. 23 for an in-depth and emotional discussion of Carson, a 31-year-old stricken with Wolf-Hirschorn Syndrome and a Grade 1-winning 2-year-old, Carson’s Run, named in his honor. With the screen displaying the hosts in three quadrants and Wade and Carson, and at times hugging his father, Wade describes how his friendship with fellow United States Military Academy cadet and West Point Thoroughbred President Terry Finely led to an idea more than 10 years ago to name a horse after Carson. In rearing Carson, Wade relates the daily challenges that he and his wife, Kim, have faced, but how the incredibly unlikely occurrence of being a part of a winning Thoroughbred has been an uplifting experience for the family. “I was watching the NYRA show the day that Carson's Run made his first start at Saratoga, and Maggie Wolfendale interviewed Terry Finley in the winner's circle after he won, and they talked about the story behind the naming of the horse,” said Susan Finley, Thoroughbred Daily News Publisher. “Bill Finley contacted Terry and wrote a story for that day's TDN, and when Carson's Run won the Grade I Summer Stakes, Bill decided to invite Wade Jost onto the Writers' Room. We were all very moved by his openness and honesty, and his willingness to discuss Carson's situation and struggles, and what Terry's friendship and the naming of the horse has meant to him.” “All the credit to Wade Jost, and the incredible team that combines to produce the TDN Writers' Room every week; our hosts Bill Finley, Randy Moss, and Zoe Cadman, to our producers, the TDN’s Katie Petrunyak and Anthony LaRocca, and our editors Alia LaRocca and Nathan Wilkinson from the PW Media Group.” Wade Yost added about this experience: “It’s been emotional. We just wanted to do something for Carson. We have four children and the other three are really good athletes. They’re grown now, but he was always going with us to their events as they competed in their various sports and was always in the background. So it was one of those things like, let’s give him some limelight—to live vicariously through an animal who can actually run. He’s been confined to a wheelchair from day one. It’s just a phenomenal thing that Terry and West Point Thoroughbreds have done for us.” The winning entry can be viewed here . Honorable Mentions in the Multimedia category went to America’s Best Racing for “Experience the Thrill of Winning the Kentucky Derby with Ramiro Restrepo,” which appeared on Bloodhorse.com and on NBCSports.com on May 9, 2003, Greg Charkoudian, producer; and to TDN for “Will Walden Racing Gives Fresh Start to an Improbable Team,” published on January 11, 2023, Katie Petrunyak, Producer. Judges in the Multimedia category were: Mike Brunker, former racing writer for the Las Vegas Review-Journal; John Engelhardt, 35 years as a producer in TV/radio/podcasts, and current host of The Regular Guy on winningponies.com; and Joe Withee, Director of Broadcast Publicity, Emerald Downs. Television Feature – Woodbine Entertainment “In SECRETARIAT The Last Race,” the Woodbine Entertainment broadcast team produced a retrospective of the last race of the 1973 Triple Crown winner’s career in the Canadian International on the turf at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. The feature aired on Oct. 8, 2023, on TSN (The Sports Network) during the 2023 running of the Canadian International. Through compelling footage of Secretariat’s arrival in Canada with throngs of media in attendance at the airport and for his workout at Woodbine, the story is recounted, among others, by Secretariat’s jockey in the International, Eddie Maple, and longtime Woodbine public relations director Bruce Walker, and broadcast and Woodbine Journal editor, Jim Bannon. Secretariat won the Canadian International on a bitterly cold day by 6 ½ lengths. His victory was so inspiring and uplifting that fans came out of the stands and across the dirt track to cheer him home. “History has already dictated the indelible mark that Secretariat left on the world of sports and his story has been told a hundred times over,” said Rob Platts, Director of Broadcasting, Woodbine Entertainment. “The part of this narrative that hasn’t been as fully explored is how the greatest racehorse in the world ran his last race at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada and that’s the story we wanted to tell. We wanted viewers to understand what this historic event meant to those that were actually there in 1973 and what better way to do that than to hear first-hand from those that experienced it and truly feel the passion they felt 50 years ago.” “The mix of archival film and the real emotions from those still here to remember what it felt like truly brought this story to life and the broadcast team at Woodbine couldn’t be more proud to have their hard work on this piece recognized.” SECRETARIAT The Last Race was produced by Tammy Gillanders with support from Phil McSween and Paul Salvalaggio. The director of photography was David Syrie and Rob Deluca, and Andrew Doherty was the editor. The winning entry can be viewed here . Honorable Mention in the Television- Feature category went to CBS Sports Network for “Secretariat,” produced and directed by Laura Dunham, which aired on May 2, 2023. Judges in the Television Feature category were: Bruce Casella, television producer and director, Pushin a Rock Productions and former Co-Host of ESPN’s Thoroughbred Digest show; Dick Jerardi, who covered more than three decades of Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup races for the Philadelphia Daily News; and Kristine Kugler, Horse Racing Producer, ESPN. Photography – Carolyn Simancik Carolyn Simancik, who has been photographing for Eclipse Sportwire since 2018, captured the most dramatic finish of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships in “Trading Horse Paint,” which appeared on the Press Box website on Nov. 4, 2023. Born in Troy, Michigan, and currently residing in Weatherford, Texas, Simancik zeroed in on the unrelenting battle in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) between defending champion Cody’s Wish, ridden by Junior Alvarado, and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner National Treasure, ridden by Flavien Prat. With her Canon EOS R3, Simancik captured, the vivid contrast of Cody’s Wish and rider Alvarado covered in dirt, compared to front-runner National Treasure and Prat, virtually unmarked. Owing to the competitiveness of the moment, Prat’s right arm leans into Alvardo with barely inches of daylight between the two colts. Cody’s Wish prevailed by a nose but had to wait out a stewards’ inquiry before being declared the winner. “It’s the most incredible feeling,” said Simancik on winning the Eclipse Award. “The caliber of photographers you are up against are people I have looked up to for a long time,” mentioning Eclipse Award-winning photographers, Michael Clevenger, Scott Serio, and Alex Evers. “When I look back at all the photos on the day, that image stood out,” recalled Simancik. “That’s Cody’s Wish, eyes forward, gritty type of horse. He had every opportunity to quit and he won.” Prior to her full-time work in photography, Simancik was the breeding manager for eight years at the Oklahoma Equine Hospital in Washington, Oklahoma. The winning photograph can be viewed here . Judges in the category were: Mark Abraham, freelance photographer and currently deputy director of the United States Senate Press Photographers’ Gallery; Rob Carr, Getty Images/Chief Photographer, Sport; and Mike Kane, veteran Thoroughbred journalist, and photographer. Edited NTRA release with additional content by Dick Downey
By Dick Downey 14 Dec, 2023
John Shear, the popular and durable Santa Anita Paddock Captain, passed away Tuesday from natural causes at age 102 according to a release from the track. A nice man quick with a smile, Shear enthusiastically loved the racing industry. In 2021 he was given NTWAB's Mr. Fitz Award for typifying the spirit of racing at the organization's Annual Awards Dinner during Breeders' Cup week. With Shear was unable to attend the event, his son Mike Shear accepted the award. The previous summer, John had opted to retire while in good health at age 100. “John will be deeply missed by countless life-long friends here at Santa Anita,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita Senior Vice President and General Manager. “We were honored to have him as part of the Santa Anita family for more than 60 years of dedicated service and we’ll never forget him.” Born Jan. 17, 1921 in England, John was raised in an orphanage from age four to 14. At four feet 11 inches, he originally aspired to be a jockey. The plan was disrupted by World War II, when he sustained a shoulder injury while serving in an anti-aircraft unit. Following the war John emigrated to Vancouver, B.C. before going to southern California and Santa Anita as an exercise boy in 1954. Shear was an assistant trainer when he first began working in Santa Anita’s parking lot in 1961. “I was exercising horses for a guy in Vancouver and he asked me if I’d like to go with him to Santa Anita that fall,” he said on the occasion of his 99th birthday. “I said ‘Sure,’ and as soon as I stepped off that van in the stable area here, I said ‘Lord, this is where I want to be.’ The place was so incredibly beautiful and I’ve never gotten tired of it.” John attributed his fitness to a good diet, a consistent exercise regimen that included daily push-ups and walks, and regular trips to Las Vegas with friends to play poker and laugh. He had this very basic advice on the occasion of his retirement: “Find something you love, stay positive and exercise!” John received national acclaim at age 90 after he likely saved a 5-year-old girl from catastrophic injury or worse when he shielded her from a loose horse that bolted out of Santa Anita’s Seabiscuit Walking Ring. He was run over and sustained multiple fractures, including a broken pelvis, and life-threatening internal bleeding. The young girl, Roxy Key, was unhurt. Roxy's father Michael Key was with her when John gave up his body. “He didn’t save a daughter, he saved a family,” Key said. Roxy’s mother would later refer to John as her daughter’s “guardian angel.” John Shear is survived by his wife Diane and their son Mike. The family plans to have a private ceremony in honor of John. Edited Santa Anita release with additional content by Dick Downey
13 Dec, 2023
Past and present NTWAB members Paul Moran and Dick Jerardi are among three selected to the National Museum of Racing’s Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor, the National Museum of Racing announced Dec. 12.  Jerardi, a decades-long NTWAB member, grew up in Baltimore and graduated from the University of Maryland. He attended his first Preakness in 1973 and played a role in Pimlico Race Course officials erecting a fence to keep infield fans from getting too close to the inside rail after dozens did just that to get a glimpse of Secretariat. Jerardi became immersed in the game at Pimlico, Bowie, Laurel, and Timonium almost daily from 1977 to early 1985. He began authoring freelance articles about horse racing for the Baltimore News American and was the racing writer for Sports First, a Baltimore paper dedicated exclusively to sports that lasted just a year beginning in 1983. In February 1985, Jerardi was hired as the horse racing writer for the Philadelphia Daily News and became a fixture on the national scene. He covered every Triple Crown race from 1987 through 2017 and nearly every Breeders’ Cup during the same period while writing more than 7,000 stories for the paper during 33 years there — mostly about horse racing — with time covering college basketball and some football and baseball coverage mixed in along with the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He covered 25 Final Fours for the Daily News and has been radio analyst for Penn State basketball since 2005. Jerardi was a Daily Racing Form weekly columnist for 20 years and was a charter member of the Beyer Speed Figure team first assembled in the mid-1980s. Jerardi’s said his favorite experiences in racing occurred from 2004 through 2006, when three horses with Philadelphia connections — Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex and Barbaro — won five of seven Triple Crown races, with a second and a third. In 2006, Jerardi won the Eclipse Award for his series on the late, great Barbaro. He won the Red Smith Award for Kentucky Derby coverage five times and is a three-time winner of the Joe Hirsch Award for best Breeders’ Cup story. He was honored for the best Preakness story in 2004. In 2007, Jerardi was chosen by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, then known as the National Turf Writers Association, to receive the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in turf writing. His career also includes television. Jerardi is co-host of Let’s Go Racing, a 30-minute weekly horse racing show in the Philadelphia market since 1992, and he's been providing live analysis for a Pennsylvania Derby TV show annually since 2011. Additionally, he has served as a co-host for the Maryland Million on HRTV from 2009 through 2014 and has mades appearances throughout the country on radio shows prior to Triple Crown races and Breeders’ Cup sincde 2005. Jerardi was an ESPN panelist for Kentucky Derby preview coverage from 2005 to 2007, Preakness (2006) and Breeders’ Cup shows (2005 and 2006). Moran (1947 ̶ 2013) was born in Buffalo, N.Y., and graduated from the University at Buffalo. He served in Vietnam and the Middle East as a sergeant in the Air Force before beginning a distinguished career in sports journalism, primarily known for his prowess as a racing writer. Following his military service, Moran wrote about a variety of sports for the Tonawanda News near his hometown. He covered his first Triple Crown races in 1973 during Secretariat’s historic run and continued to cover the series without interruption for the next 35 years. Moran worked for the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel from 1975 to 1985 then joined the staff at Newsday on Long Island, N.Y., where he worked until 2008. Moran won two Eclipse Awards while at Newsday. His 1985 Eclipse was for a profile on Daily Racing Form columnist Joe Hirsch. Five years later, Moran was honored with his second Eclipse for his piece about the tragic breakdown of Hall of Fame filly Go for Wand. He also won the Red Smith Award for his Kentucky Derby coverage, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors Award from the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1990 and the Distinguished Sports Writing Award from the New York Newspaper Publishers Association in 1992. Moran served on the board of directors of the National Turf Writers Association from 1987 to 1990 and was president of the New York Turf Writers Association from 1990 to 1992. Moran semi-retired to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in 2008 but continued to write for various outlets including ESPN.com, and worked six Saratoga meetings for The Associated Press. Moran was a contributor to the book Crown of Jewels of Thoroughbred Racing and his work was regularly featured in a variety of magazines. Along with writing about racing, Moran was a participant in the sport as an owner of several New York-bred horses trained by James Bond. After a three-year battle with cancer, Moran died in November 2013. The following summer, a group of Moran’s friends and colleagues scattered his ashes in the Saratoga Race Course infield near the grave of Go for Wand, per Moran’s wishes. The New York Times said Moran was “the last true turf writer, whose written words and outsize personality belonged on the same page and in the same press box with Ring Lardner and Damon Runyon, Joe Palmer and Red Smith.” ESPN.com added that he “brought a deep understanding of the sport and its history. With such a perspective, he could peer through a fog of pretense and publicity to see the real story. He had a mordant wit and could unleash a sardonic cleverness; he could be profoundly entertaining and entertainingly profound, but he always respected the sport and its competitors.” John L. Hervey (1870 ̶ 1947), a native of Jefferson, Ohio, is the third 2023 Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor designee. Hervey began writing about thoroughbred and standardbred racing around the age of 16. Raised in a horseman’s family, Hervey developed a considerable knowledge of the art and science of horse breeding. While still a teenager Hervey put that knowledge to good use when he was hired by William Fasig to work in his sales organization — the Tipton Company of Cleveland, later becoming the famous Fasig-Tipton Company — and soon he was writing articles for a variety of turf journals. Through his connection with Fasig, Hervey became editor of The Trotting Horse in 1892. He also provided racing coverage for the Chicago Tribune in the 1890s and became one of Daily Racing Form’s first contributors. He remained an occasional correspondent for the Form until his death. In 1912, Hervey became editor for The Thoroughbred Record. It was during this period that Hervey, who used the pen name “Salvator” in honor of the Hall of Fame racehorse, became widely regarded as one of America’s foremost authorities on all aspects of racing and breeding. Other publications Hervey wrote for included The Blood-Horse, Breeder and Sportsman, The Harness Horse, Hoof Beats, and The Thoroughbred of California, among others. The Jockey Club hired Hervey to research and document American racing’s history in a multi-edition work, Racing in America. Hervey wrote three volumes in the series, the periods 1665 to 1865 (split into two books) and 1922 to 1936. Hervey’s exhaustively researched Racing in America books are considered by many to be his important works. He was also commissioned to write several volumes of the annual book American Race Horses, which was originally sponsored by Alfred G. Vanderbilt. In 1947, Hervey was contracted by the Trotting Horse Club of America, Inc., to author the book The American Trotter, which has been revered as “the most comprehensive history of the standardbred ever published,” according to The California Thoroughbred. Hervey, who died in December 1947, was so well thought of in harness racing that he was posthumously inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1962. The John Hervey Awards for excellence in harness racing journalism are named in his honor. Previous selections to the Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor are Steven Crist (2010), Charles Hatton (2010), Bill Nack (2010), Red Smith (2010), Dr. Russ Harris (2011), Joe Palmer (2011), Jay Hovdey (2012), Whitney Tower (2012), Andrew Beyer (2013), Kent Hollingsworth (2013), George F. T. Ryall (2013), Jim Murray (2014), Jennie Rees (2014), Raleigh Burroughs (2015), Steve Haskin (2015), Jim McKay (2016), Maryjean Wall (2016), Barney Nagler (2017), Michael Veitch (2017), Jack Whitaker (2017), Joe Burnham (2018), Tom Hammond (2018), Charlsie Cantey (2019), Billy Reed (2019), Pierre “Peb” Bellocq (2020), William Leggett (2020), Walter Haight (2021), Jack Mann (2021), Jay Privman (2021), Heywood Hale Broun (2022), Bert Morgan (2022), and Damon Runyon (2022). The National Museum of Racing’s Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor was established in 2010 to recognize individuals whose careers have been dedicated to, or substantially involved in, writing about thoroughbred racing (non-fiction), and who distinguished themselves as journalists. The criteria has since been expanded to allow the consideration of other forms of media. Often referred to as the dean of thoroughbred racing writers, Hirsch won both the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Writing and the Lord Derby Award in London from the Horserace Writers and Reporters Association of Great Britain. He also received the Eclipse Award of Merit (1993), the Big Sport of Turfdom Award (1983), The Jockey Club Medal (1989), and was designated as the honored guest at the 1994 Thoroughbred Club of America’s testimonial dinner. The annual Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park is named in his honor. Hirsch, who died in 2009, was also a former chair of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Nominating Committee and the founder of the National Turf Writers Association. The Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor Committee is comprised of Edward L. Bowen (chairman), author of more than 20 books on thoroughbred racing; Bob Curran, retired Jockey Club vice president of corporate communications; Ken Grayson, National Museum of Racing trustee; Jane Goldstein, retired turf publicist; Steve Haskin, Secretariat.com and longtime BloodHorse columnist; G. D. Hieronymus, retired Keeneland director of broadcast services; Jay Hovdey, five-time Eclipse Award-winning writer; and Dan Smith, retired senior media coordinator of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Edited release
By Dick Downey 06 Dec, 2023
By Dick Downey Nick Luck, a member of National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, was named Reporter of Year by the British-based Horserace Writers and Photographers Association in its annual Derby Awards. It's Luck's 11th award win according to HWPA, which describes itself as the official organization representing the interests of racing media. Other nominees were Bill Barber (@RacingPost), Jonathan Harding (@RacingPost) and Callum Jamieson (@SunRacing). Luck has also been named HWPA's Broadcaster of the Year numerous times. Luck hosts the sponsored Nick Luck Daily Podcast featuring "the talking points for the day" of the business and sport of Thoroughbred racing and is a featured member of NBC's Breeders' Cup broadcast team. According to Wikipedia, in 2017 Luck became the BBC Equestrian commentator and has since covered the Olympia Horse Show, Badminton Horse Trials, Burghley Horse Trials and the Olympic Games for BBC. Luck also served as a member of British horseracing’s Whip Consultation Steering Group which in mid-2022 produced 20 recommendations relating to the use of the whip in British racing, all of which were approved by the Board of the British Horseracing Authority according to Wikipedia. The HWPA website says it acts as liaison between the Racecourse Association in Britain and the horse racing media to provide the best possible race-day facilities at all UK racecourses for accredited members of the media. The annual Derby Awards awards lunch is the association's signature event, similar to NTWAB Annual Awards Dinner. It's held each December and includes awards for the best journalist, broadcaster and photographer, as well as a number of other awards voted by members. There's more about the HWPA here . .
Show More
Share by: