Good day, everyone. I wanted to pass along some sad news this week about the passing of longtime turf writer and publicist Jack Will, a friend and colleague to many of our members. Jack passed away in early October at the age of 78, and Daily Racing Form and Paulick Report posted tributes Thursday. Sincere condolences to all who knew and cared for Jack.

Links to the tributes may be found here for Paulick Report and here for Daily Racing Form.      

Annual Awards Dinner: Don’t delay purchasing tickets for this year’s NTWAB Annual Awards Dinner, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Malone’s Prime Events in Lexington. Members receive a discount on the ticket price, and tables of 8 or 10 can be purchased by contacting Byron King or Dick Downey, or by emailing ntwab2016@gmail.com.

We will honor six individuals – Kiaran McLaughlin, Jim McIngvale, Barbara Livingston, Chris Lincoln, Tom Pedulla and Mike Welsch – along with some other special guests. The Breeders’ Cup Writing Awards are also presented at the Awards Dinner.

Individual tickets for this year’s 62^nd Annual Awards Dinner can be purchased at this link to Eventbrite.

Breeders’ Cup meeting: Please mark your calendars for the NTWAB General Meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 at Keeneland. Note, location to be announced and time also subject to change depending on press conferences, availability, etc. A detailed agenda will be sent the week of the meeting. Topics will include developments and progress on the internship program, membership applications, etc.

New Members: The above meeting is one of two times new member applications can be approved by the organization. If you know someone interested in becoming a member of the NTWAB, please have them send a letter of interest, along with two letters of support from members in good standing, to NTWAB Secretary Jennifer Kelly (thesirbarton@gmail.com) and NTWAB President Tom Law (tlawky@gmail.com). Please refer to this link to Article III of the NTWAB bylaws for membership qualification information.