President's Breeders' Cup Newsletter

President Tom Law recaps NTWAB's 2020 Breeders' Cup meeting, including discussion of members' pool reporting efforts, announcement of new members, a gift to a worthy cause, Eclipse Award voting, next year's annual awards dinner and membership review.

Good day, and belated Happy Thanksgiving wishes to you all.


Thanks to those who turned out, technical difficulties and all, for the NTWAB meeting Wednesday, Nov. 4, prior to the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.

The meeting was our organization’s second via conference call in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, following the traditional Derby Week meeting held this year in September. We tackled a number of agenda items during the meeting, including discussion of the pool reporting process and access for the NTWAB teams at the Derby, Preakness and Breeders’ Cup, the 2020 and 2021 Annual Awards/Dinner and start of the next membership review. Please see the minutes from the meeting, shown below, for more details.


Please welcome new members (in alphabetical order) Nathan Campbell (Gaming USA/horseracing.net – Associate), Paul Halloran (ST Publishing/The Saratoga Special – Regular Writer), Mark Midland (Horse Racing Nation – Associate), Ken Rudolph (TVG – Regular Broadcaster), Brad Stephens (Horse Racing Nation – Regular Writer) and Milt Toby (BloodHorse – Associate) into the NTWAB.


We also announced during Breeders' Cup week that even though we decided to cancel the 2020 Annual Awards Dinner, the NTWAB would continue tradition and make a significant one-time donation to an industry affiliated or related organization/cause. The NTWAB donated $5,000 to the Lexington, Ky.-based Legacy Equine Academy, Inc. A press release announcing the donation went out the Wednesday prior to the Breeders' Cup.

The Eclipse Awards voting process will begin soon. NTWAB Secretary Jessie Oswald will provide the NTRA with our updated membership roster this week. All Regular members in good standing (dues paid for 2020) will receive an Eclipse Award ballot. If you haven’t paid your dues yet you should have received multiple notifications by now. Please make sure your dues are paid; otherwise you risk being dropped from the roster and will need to re-apply for membership.


Part of the Eclipse Awards process also involves my and Greg Hall’s participation on the Eclipse Awards Steering Committee, which does a number of things including suggestions, nominations and selections of Special Eclipse Award and Eclipse Award of Merit winners.


While there is no hard-fast rule regarding those two honors, the Special Award typically goes to an organization for achievements or noteworthy accomplishments in a given year, or short period of time, while the Eclipse Award of Merit is often a career achievement/longtime excellence acknowledgement. Please bear in mind these awards are for the greater North American racing industry.


The NTWAB board is in the midst of the suggestion and discussion phase for the Special/Merit Awards, and I’d like to hear from you if there are any individuals and/or organizations you feel deserve consideration. Please send along any suggestions, along with some reasons why, to tom@thisishorseracing.com.


The Special Award hasn’t been presented since 2014 with recipient Old Friends Farm, which followed 2013 recipient Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Longtime Del Mar executive Joe Harper received the 2018 Eclipse Award of Merit following other recent winners Andy Beyer and Steven Crist (2016), Leonard Lavin (2015) and Tom Durkin (2014).


The NTRA has a complete list of past Eclipse Award winners here.


Thanks in advance and best wishes for a safe and healthy holiday season.


Tom Law
NTWAB President
November 30, 2020


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NTWAB Meeting Minutes
Breeders’ Cup Week 2020
Wednesday, Nov. 4 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Conducted by conference call


Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 12:15 p.m.


Roll call of members present, including officers: In attendance: Tom Law, Greg Hall, Jessie Oswald, Dick Downey, Richard Gross, Paul Rolfes, Ed McNamarra, Caton Bredar, Bob Ehalt, Beth Harris, Alex Orr, Mike Farrell, Marty McGee, Jay Privman, Alicia Hughes, Jennie Rees, Jay Hovdey, Ron Flatter, Tim Wilkin, Julie June Stewart, Byron King, Loren Hebel-Osborne, Natalie Voss, Nicole Russo.


Update on Breeders’ Cup pool reporting, media access, etc.: Tom Law provided an update on the Breeders’ Cup Media Pool reporting - Content is uploaded in DropBox daily and includes audio, video and written notes. Access link to daily DropBox folder was emailed to NTWAB members and other members of the media by Secretary. Pool reporters are Tim Wilkin, Jennie Rees, Alicia Hughes, Nicole Russo and Frank Angst. Would like to send pool reporters thank you gift from NTWAB.


New Member Applications: review and discussion of new member applications advanced by board to full membership vote, see chart below. Discussion of full versus associate membership to be granted to Mark Midland with majority of members in attendance voting to offer him Associate membership.


2020 Annual Awards: Given that we will not make any charitable donations at our Annual Awards Dinner in honor of recipients, NTWAB board suggested at Derby meeting a significant one-time donation to industry affiliated or related organization/cause. Press release went out 11/4 announcing $5,000 donation to the Lexington, Ky.-based Legacy Equine Academy Inc.


NTWAB Annual Dinner: Plan for 2021 in Del Mar underway by Loren Hebel-Osborne with intent to hold dinner at the Brigantine.


Membership Review: Tom Law will recruit volunteers to help with membership review in lieu of bylaw changes – membership review. Tom is working on it and hopes to have it done by end of year, prior to Eclipse voting.


Other Business: None


Adjournment at 1:02 p.m.


New Members, Sponsors, Letters Received, Affiliation, Contact Info, Status
Mark Midland   Ron Flatter/Tom Pedulla   Flatter/Pedulla   Horse Racing Nation   Associate Writer
Brad Stephens   Ron Flatter/Tom Pedulla   Flatter/Pedulla   Horse Racing Nation   Full Writer
Nathan Campbell   Natalie Voss/Donna Brothers   Voss/Brothers   Gaming USA (horseracing.net/us)   Associate Writer
Paul Halloran   Tom Law/Joe Clancy   Law/Clancy   ST Publishing, Saratoga Special  Full Writer
Milton Toby   Frank Angst/Natalie Voss   Angst/Voss   BloodHorse   Associate Writer
Ken Rudolph   Jay Hovdey/Caton Bredar   Hovdey/Bredar   TVG   Full Broadcaster
               
             


Ben Baugh, Ocala Area NTWAB Member, Dies at 60

May 7, 2026
Ben Baugh, a longtime member of NTWAB, died unexpectedly overnight after the Kentucky Derby. He was 60. Baugh lived in Reddick, just north of Ocala, Fla., and most recently worked with 352today.com, where fellow journalist Scott Harrell described him as a consummate newsman. "In fact, the only things Ben loved more than the place he lived were the equine sports it helps nurture and support," Harrell wrote. "His final stories for 352Today concerned the region’s connection to his cherished Kentucky Derby. “Ben was a dedicated journalist who cared deeply about his work and the community he served. He brought curiosity, professionalism, and a steady presence every day,” wrote North Central Florida Media GM Lisa Varner in an internal announcement published at 352today. “His contributions to 352today and the stories he told will have a lasting impact, and he will be greatly missed.” Former trainer Randy Bradshaw eulogized Baugh on Facebook, writing "That’s so sad - spent a week with Ben when he was doing a piece on Wayne Lukas, he was a great person and talented writer!" Former jockey Pablo Morales posted upon his retirement, "I wanna give a huge thank you to Benjamin Baugh for writing about my career and my retirement, having his support thru my time as a jockey has been an honor...." Baugh's coverage of U.S. efforts to support local military veterans drew the praise of Todd Belknap, an official of Vets Helping Vets. "I met Ben when I was the Deputy Director at Vets Helping Vets USA. Ben was so approachable, and he had a keen sense of humor to navigate the rigors of journalism and the mine fields that accompany the trade," Belknap wrote. "Ben helped us tremendously at Veterans Helping Veterans USA, always fitting us in on his already crammed schedule whenever we had a story or event we needed help promoting." Baugh's LinkedIn bio says he was a graduate of Ashland University in Ohio and covered politics, public safety, education, religion, entertainment and equestrian sports for 28 years. He had previously written for the Ocala Gazette, its former sister publication Ocala Style, and Past the Wire. According to the latter publication, Baugh was "an intern at Thoroughbred Racing Communications, and through hands-on time at Adena Springs South and Crupi’s New Castle Farm, learning racing not just as a craft but as a way of life." Ed DeRosa of Horse Racing Nation posted at X, "Worked with Ben at TTimes way back when.RIP!" A report at 352.com says Baugh was discovered on the morning of May 3 by his stepfather, John Butt, who came to wake him for church. According to his Facebook page, Baugh is survived by his brother Matthew Baugh and cousins Errol Portman, Rita Schineis, Lorraine Portman and Carolyn Dent. A post at 352today.com says information about any memorial events will be forthcoming. We at National Turf Writers and Broadcasters extend our sympathies to Ben's family, friends and colleagues. By Dick Downey .

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Newsletter from President Byron King Ahead of Kentucky Derby

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NTWAB's spring meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 29, at 11 a.m. ET in the press conference area at Churchill Downs. Members attending in person are welcome to join us on-site, and a Zoom option will be available for those unable to travel. More.....

NTWAB 2025 Eclipse Awards Voting

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Click through the link to view NTWAB members 2025 Eclipse Awards votes

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Media Eclipse Award Winners Announced

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2025 Eclipse Awards Finalists Announced

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The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) today announced the finalists for the 2025 Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards, recognizing excellence through the past year in Thoroughbred racing.

NTWAB, The Jockey Club to Co-Fund Record Nine Media Internships in 2026

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NTWAB Notes from the President

December 4, 2025
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National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Announces Expansion of Internship Funding for 2026

December 2, 2025
The National Turf Writers and Broadcasters with matching financial support from The Jockey Club, today announced a substantial expansion of its internship funding program for equine media outlets in 2026. Both organizations have authorized contributions of up to $12,000 each, co-funding potentially eight paid internships designed to bolster staffing in horse racing media and foster the next generation of equine journalists.