NTRA release

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters today announced that Team Zenyatta—the individuals who helped the 6-year-old mare become one of the most recognizable sports stars of 2010—will be honored with the Special Eclipse Award at the 40th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony on Monday, January 17 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, in Miami Beach, Fla.

The Special Award honors extraordinary service, individual achievements in, or contributions to the sport…

NTRA release

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters today announced that Marylou Whitney, for her extraordinary service as an owner, breeder, and for her incredible generosity and support of philanthropic causes, will be honored with the Eclipse Award of Merit for a lifetime of outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing.

Mrs. Whitney will receive the Eclipse Award of Merit on Monday, Jan. 17 at the 40th Annual Eclipse Awards ceremony at…

NTRA release

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters today announced that Claiborne Farm, celebrating its 100th year as one of the most influential and successful international racing and breeding farms, will be honored with the Eclipse Award of Merit for outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing.

The owners of Claiborne Farm—Seth Hancock, along with his sisters Dell and Clay—will receive the Eclipse Award of Merit on Monday, Jan. 17 at the…

NTRA release

The three presenting organizations of the Eclipse Awards—the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form (DRF) and the National Turf Writers Association (NTWA)—announced today that voting in the 2009 Older Female category will be officially revised to correct an error made by one of the voters. The error caused Zenyatta to win the Older Female category by a count of 231-1, rather than by a unanimous, 232-0 margin. 

Jenny Kellner
NYRA

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – From Rachel Alexandra to Gio Ponti, Summer Bird to Kodiak Kowboy, Steve Asmussen to Godolphin Stables, many of horse racing’s biggest stars turned in their finest performances in New York in 2009 en route to the Eclipse Awards Monday night in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Amy Gregory
Keeneland Association        

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland Association sales graduates excelled during last night’s 39th annual Eclipse Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Five horses – either sold at Keeneland sales or who won major stakes races during one of its meets — won six awards during the ceremony, honoring the best in the Thoroughbred industry at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. In addition, Julien Leparoux, who won his fourth Keeneland riding title in April, was named best jockey.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

The 39^th annual Eclipse Awards got off to an emotional start when Daily Racing Form columnist Jay Hovdey gave a fitting tribute to recently deceased trainer Bobby Frankel.  Hovdey narrated a video montage of Frankel’s brilliant career and then the evening got down to serious business: Revealing who was Horse of the Year for 2009.

NTRA release

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers Association announced today that Jeff Taylor of Winchester, Va., has won the 2009 Media Eclipse Award for Photography for his picture taken at the Blue Ridge Hunt Point to Point Races in Clarke County, Va. The photo appeared in The Winchester Star on March 9, 2009.

“It’s an unbelievable thrill to win this award” said Taylor, who was born in Bethesda, Md., and has…

NTRA release

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers Association today announced that Joe Drape has won the 2009 Media Eclipse Award for Writing in the Feature/Enterprise category for “Despite Outcry, Derby Owners Fall Silent on Drugs for Horses,” which appeared in The New York Times on April 30, 2009.

NTRA release

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers Association announced today that NBC Sports has won the 2009 Media Eclipse Award in the National Television Feature programming category for its documentary “The Story of Mine That Bird, 50-1”, which aired at the beginning of its Preakness Stakes telecast on May 16, 2009.