Organizations from every corner of the Thoroughbred industry have come together to support a new program created by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation to develop second careers for horses racing at New York Racing Association tracks. The program, forged from a $225,000 start-up grant from the Harriet E. Pfleger Foundation, will provide rehabilitation and retraining for as many as 100 horses a year. NYRA, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and The Jockey Club, as well as the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. and The Jockeys’ Guild, have all stepped forward with commitments to fund the initiative.

“With the spark created by a large donation from a private foundation, we were able to put together a consortium of racing partners to fund and oversee this valuable new program,” TRF Director of External Affairs Diana Pikulski said. “We have a model here in New York that embodies what everyone is trying to accomplish in the industry nationwide. We are excited that this has become a reality.”

The first step will be the redevelopment of the TRF retirement farm at the Wallkill Correctional Facility in Wallkill, N.Y. Wallkill, established in 1983, has been home to hundreds of Thoroughbred retirees, all of whom are cared for by Wallkill Correctional Facility inmates. A state-accredited vocational training course in horse care and management developed by the TRF at Wallkill has served as the prototype for TRF programs around the U.S., as well as a blueprint for other Thoroughbred retirement organizations.

Wallkill will be expanded to include the capability for short- and middle-term rehabilitation. According to Pikulski, horses will be sent from NYRA tracks to Wallkill for an evaluation that will determine if they are sound enough for the program, and whether they need short- or long-term rest before they begin the retraining process prior to adoption. The TRF is also exploring potential sites to be used as the retraining centers, which will showcase the horses for those looking to adopt.  The first horses are expected to be accepted into the program early this spring.

“Wallkill has the facilities now for basic retirement, with the inmates grooming the horses and keeping them happy and healthy, but this is a genuine effort to repurpose the horses that are sound enough to have a future in other equine disciplines,” said NYTHA President Rick Violette, Jr. “That’s a significant challenge, for sure, but it’s a challenge that can be met, and it coincides with other initiatives that NYTHA and NYRA are developing to find second careers for racehorses. Horses that are physically able don’t need to be turned out – they really are much happier if they have jobs to do.”

NYRA and NYTHA have partnered to commit a total of $185,000 to the initiative. The Jockey Club will contribute $50,000, and more than $135,000 has been collected from fundraisers and private donations.

A committee comprised of representatives from NYTHA, NYRA, TRF, NYTB, the Jockey’s Guild and the public will provide oversight for the program.

“I think it is significant that all of these industry stakeholders are rallying with substantial financial support around an expansion of the TRF’s signature and award-winning project,” NYTB Executive Director Jeffrey Cannizzo remarked. “We are also grateful for the very substantial generosity of the Harriet Pfleger Foundation. This is an initiative that has a documented success in the rehabilitation of criminal offenders while at the same time advancing the TRF’s horse rescue mission. It’s a tribute to all involved.”

Added Violette, “Everyone recognizes that, ultimately, this is all about the horses.”

About The New York Racing Association, Inc.

Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks through 2033, NYRA boasts a lineage that actually stretches back almost 150 years. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of the state’s thoroughbred business which contributes more than $2 billion annually to New YorkState’s urban, suburban and rural economy. In 2011, more than 1.8 million people attended the live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring in nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races totals more than $8.1 million. NYRA has a vast network of websites, including www.nyra.com, www.belmontstakes.com, and www.nyragroupsales.com. You can also follow NYRA on social media platforms Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and YouTube.

About NYTHA

For over half a century, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association has represented the interests of horse owners and trainers at NYRA tracks. NYTHA was founded with the objective of serving as a collective voice for the broad interests of Thoroughbred owners and trainers and to improve and increase the effectiveness of its constituents in the day-to-day activities of racing. Today, NYTHA serves as the New York State Racing and Wagering Board’s recognized representative of owners and trainers and has taken a primary role in the New York horseracing industry. NYTHA strives to protect the economic interests of all horsemen and to gain public recognition of horseracing as a vital form of entertainment, deserving support, protection and preservation. More information is available at www.nytha.com. You can also follow NYTHA on Facebook.

About The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation has provided compassionate care to retired racehorses for 30 years and proudly serves more than 1,000 Thoroughbreds at 29 farms around the nation. For more information, visit www.trfinc.org.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Breeders’ Cup today unveiled the official event logo for the 29th running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park, in Arcadia, Calif., on November 2-3, 2012. The 2012 World Championships will mark the sixth time that Santa Anita will host the event, returning for the first time since back-to-back years in 2008 and 2009. The 2011 World Championships were held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The 2012 event logo incorporates the Breeders’ Cup signature purple coloring with its brand mark in gold at the center of the logo, flushed in the iconic spotlights of Los Angeles. The words “World Championships” are placed in an arc over the top of the logo and a bottom banner with “Los Angeles” with the year 2012 anchors the circle. Combined, the logo captures the prestige of the Breeders’ Cup with the Hollywood esteem of Los Angeles.

Tickets for this year’s event are scheduled to go on sale to the general public in early June.  Fans may register today at www.breederscup.com/tickets to receive a special pre-sale ticket offer in late May which will allow them to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the general public.

About Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships.  The Breeders’ Cup also administers the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The 2012 World Championships will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Total purses for the two-day event, Nov. 2-3, are more than $25 million. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup Web site, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Treasure Island Las Vegas, host of the $1.6 million (estimated) Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28, will host a special qualifying contest offering two berths to the January 2013 NHC on Sunday, Jan. 29.

The one-day “Wager to Win” contest will carry an entry fee of $200 and have a limit of one entry per person with a maximum field size of 300. All contest entry fees will be returned to participants in the form of prize payouts to the top five finishers on a 50 percent – 20 percent – 15 percent – 10 percent – 5 percent basis. The top two finishers will also receive qualifying spots to the 2013 NHC, provided that each is a registered member of the 2012 Daily Racing Form NHC Tour prior to the start of Sunday’s competition. Top finishers will also be awarded points as part of the 2012 NHC Tour.

All players must be at least 21 years of age to participate in the “Wager to Win” tournament. Contestants must make eight mythical $2 win and place wagers from available contest tracks. Four plays can be made at the player’s choosing from available tracks, and four will be made on designated mandatory races. For official rules or additional information, please contact the Treasure Island casino marketing department at 1-800-944-3777.

“The ‘Wager to Win’ competition capitalizes on all the excitement surrounding NHC finals weekend,” said Keith Chamblin, senior vice president of the NTRA. “It affords NHC participants, spectators, and others within proximity to Las Vegas, an opportunity to be among the first to qualify for NHC 14 in January 2013, when we’ll be back at Treasure Island.”

Treasure Island on the Las Vegas Strip, a privately owned hotel and casino boasting nearly 3,000 guest rooms, stands alone as the only major Strip property to claim that unique market position. It’s a world-class destination for headline entertainment, the enchanting Sirens of TI nightly outdoor show and Mystère, the classic Cirque du Soleil performance that combines the powerful athleticism, high-energy acrobatics and inspiring imagery that have become the company’s hallmark. Upscale and casual dining choices, hip nightspots and indulgent spa and shopping experiences further complement the one-of-a-kind Treasure Island guest experience. For information or to make a reservation, call 800-288-7206 or visit www.treasureisland.com.

In its 13th year, the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship is the most important tournament of the year for horseplayers and is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino race books, off-track betting facilities and horse racing and handicapping Web sites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. Each year, the NHC winner joins other human and equine champions as an honoree at the Eclipse Awards. In addition to the founding title sponsor, the NHC is presented by Treasure Island Las Vegas and Sovereign Stable.

The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers, horseplayers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on the NTRA web site, NTRA.com.

The exciting victory by Drosselmeyer and Mike Smith over Game on Dude and Chantal Sutherland in the Breeders’ Cup Classic has been voted the 2011 National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Moment of the Year. Drosselmeyer’s victory also represented the second “Classic” win in as many days for trainer Bill Mott, who had saddled Royal Delta to win the previous day’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic. The connections of Drosselmeyer will be honored at the Eclipse Award ceremony Monday, January 16, in Beverly Hills, Calif., with the “NTRA Moment of the Year” award. The 2011 winner marks the third straight year that the Breeders’ Cup Classic has accounted for the NTRA Moment of the Year.

This year’s balloting was conducted at the NTRA Web site, ntra.com, and offered voters 12 different images illustrating a wide range of human emotions as well as outstanding displays of equine athleticism. Finishing second was Blind Luck’s narrow victory over Havre de Grace in the Delaware Handicap. The images and events that fans chose from, with percentage of votes they received in parentheses, were:

· Game on Dude and Chantal Sutherland survive 10 furlongs and a 12-minute stewards’ inquiry in capturing the Santa Anita Handicap (3%)

· Rosie Napravnik guides Pants on Fire to victory in the Louisiana Derby en route to becoming the first woman to win a Fair Grounds riding title (1%)

· Uncle Mo suffers his first defeat, running third behind Toby’s Corner in Aqueduct’s Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial (1%)

· Animal Kingdom runs down his foes in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (5%)

· Shackleford overcomes pre-race nervousness to hold off Animal Kingdom in the Preakness (2%)

· Blind Luck prevails by a nose over Havre de Grace following a stretch-long duel in the Delaware Handicap (14%)

· Caleb’s Posse catches a stubborn Uncle Mo in the Foxwoods King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga (2%)

· Havre de Grace beats the boys in Saratoga’s Woodward Stakes (9%)

· Joseph O’Brien, 18, becomes the youngest jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race, piloting St. Nicholas Abbey to victory in the Emirates Airline Turf for his father, Aidan O’Brien (6%)

· Court Vision spoils Goldikova’s attempt at a fourth consecutive TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile win, upsetting the field at 64-1 (2%)

· Drosselmeyer and Mike Smith edge Game on Dude and Chantal Sutherland at the wire of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, giving trainer Bill Mott his second “Classic” in 24 hours (46%)

· Rapid Redux breaks a North American record by winning his 20th consecutive race (9%)

The first-ever “NTRA Moment of the Year” was the touching scene involving 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, which saw Tiznow hold on for a dramatic victory against Giant’s Causeway. Tiznow won again the following year as fans selected his stirring repeat victory in the Classic over Sakhee. 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 2005 Preakness Stakes. Voters in 2006 chose Barbaro’s gallant struggle to recover from his Preakness injury while at the New Bolton Center. The 2007 Moment of the Year was Rags to Riches’ historic victory over Curlin in the Belmont Stakes. In 2008, it was Zenyatta’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. Zenyatta “repeated” in 2009 when fans selected her triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Last year, the Breeders’ Cup Classic again supplied the stage as Blame held off the furious stretch drive of Zenyatta.

“The NTRA Moment of the Year award and this year’s first ever Eclipse Horse of the Year Fan Vote Sweepstakes presented terrific avenues for the fans to play an active role in the Eclipse Awards ceremony,” said Keith Chamblin, NTRA senior vice president. “Drosselmeyer’s victory had so many interesting aspects to it, and we are delighted to salute that triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic as the latest NTRA Moment of the Year.” 

The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading Thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers, horseplayers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on the NTRA web site, NTRA.com.

NTRA release

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Thursday that The Stronach Group (SG) has agreed to join Daily Racing Form and Breeders’ Cup as a presenting sponsor of the Eclipse Awards.

The 41st annual Eclipse Awards ceremony will be held Monday, Jan. 16, at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

As part of the agreement, which is effective immediately and carries a duration of two years, the January 2013 Eclipse Awards will be held at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., in the Sport of Kings Theatre.

“We are delighted to reach this agreement that will take the Eclipse Awards to new and exciting heights,” said Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the NTRA.  “The partnership was structured to be multi-faceted and, while it’s too early to get into specifics, it is expected to have many ancillary benefits for both The Stronach Group and the industry as a whole going forward.”

“Our commitment is to provide a first-class customer experience for racing fans and horsemen year-round at our racing properties,” said Stronach Entertainment Group CEO Greg Avioli. “We are excited to sponsor the Eclipse Awards, which has always exemplified the best in the sport of racing.  We especially look forward to hosting the 2013 Eclipse Awards at Gulfstream Park which will be a first for the racing industry.”

The Eclipse Awards Presented by Daily Racing Form, The Stronach Group and Breeders’ Cup, are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies.

The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading Thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers, horseplayers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on the NTRA web site, NTRA.com.

Paul Shurman, a 57-year-old attorney from Dix Hills, N.Y., rode the strength of three wins and two second-place finishes to capture the 2011 crown as Daily Racing Form NHC Tour Champion and a $75,000 first-place prize. Should Shurman capture the title later this month at the Jan. 27-28 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) finals at Treasure Island Las Vegas, he will receive a $2 million bonus in addition to that event’s estimated first prize of $1,000,000.

Shurman finished first, second or third in an incredible 10 different qualifying tournaments during 2011, though only his top five finishes counted for scoring purposes. He finished the contest year with 13,200 points. Wayne Collier (12,675 points) of Slidell, La., finished in second place, good for $25,000. Third was Christopher Skotz (11,775) of Campbell, Calif., who won an NHC Tour prize of $15,000; finishing fourth and earning $7,500 was Gaylord Grundy (11,600) of Airdrie, Alberta, Canada.  And checking in fifth for a $2,500 payout was Mark Streiff (10,350) of Mission Viejo, Calif.

“Winning the NHC Tour is certainly the highlight of my handicapping career,” said Shurman.  “Many of the most respected handicappers in North America are Tour members and compete for the Tour championship.  It is very gratifying to know I can be competitive with some of the best and that on this occasion, I was fortunate enough to come out on top. Playing in handicapping tournaments and on the Tour has not only helped me hone my handicapping skills, but most importantly, has led to many friendships that I believe will last a lifetime.”

Should Shurman go on to win the NHC later this month at Treasure Island, he will be in line for a $3 million payday ($1 million grand prize plus $2 million bonus as NHC Tour winner).

“There will be added pressure at Treasure Island, but not so much from the money at stake as from the added attention,” said Shurman. “If I have a bad first day, people will say, ‘Hey, the guy who won the Tour hasn’t hit a thing yet.’ This will be my 10th NHC, and the best I ever finished was third, so I have a good appreciation of how hard it is to win—especially this year with twice as many contestants as in previous years. My main goal going in is to just be in the hunt on the second day.”

More than 4,500 NHC Tour members participated in 2011 handicapping qualifiers. Treasure Island will host a “Last Chance” qualifier on January 25 that will offer the final five berths for the January 27-28 NHC where 500 contestants will compete for a first prize of $1 million and a total estimated prize pool of $1.675 million, including cash and prizes.  But that Last Chance qualifier on January 26 will not award NHC Tour points.

The NHC Tour is a yearlong bonus series offering additional prize money and qualifying berths to the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship. Tour members receive NHC Tour points for top finishes in NHC qualifying events held during the year. In addition to potential prize money and berths in the NHC, benefits for NHC Tour members include automatic enrollment in the Horseplayers’ Coalition. The Coalition seeks legislative and regulatory solutions to tax and business issues that impact pari-mutuel racetracks and their customers and provides grass roots support for the NTRA’s lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. Tour members also are automatically eligible to participate in NTRA Advantage, offering preferred pricing on products and services from leading suppliers, including John Deere, Sherwin-Williams, OfficeDepot and OfficeMax. Registration for the 2012 NHC Tour will begin shortly.

In its 13th year, the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship is the most important tournament of the year for horseplayers and is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino race books, off-track betting facilities and horse racing and handicapping Web sites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. Each year, the NHC winner joins other human and equine champions as an honoree at the Eclipse Awards. In addition to the founding title sponsor, the NHC is presented by Treasure Island Las Vegas and Sovereign Stable.

The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers, horseplayers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on the NTRA web site, NTRA.com.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters today announced that W. Cothran “Cot” Campbell, who revolutionized racehorse ownership and syndication through his Dogwood Stable, will be honored with the Eclipse Award of Merit for a lifetime of outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing.

Campbell, 84, of Aiken, S.C., will receive the Eclipse Award of Merit on Monday, January 16 at the 41st Annual Eclipse Awards, presented by Daily Racing Form and the Breeders’ Cup. The Eclipse Awards will be held at the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

First purchasing horses in 1969, Campbell founded Dogwood Stable in 1973 and introduced the concept of syndicated racehorse ownership, bringing hundreds of new owners into the sport to experience the joy of Thoroughbred racing. Over time, Dogwood set the standard followed by other racing stables which adopted the partnership plan.  The concept of group ownership of Thoroughbreds appealed to Campbell because it allowed people the opportunity to participate in the racing world at a reasonable cost. Campbell estimates that Dogwood has brought in approximately 1,200 partners during the past 35 years.

In November of last year, Campbell announced that he was moving into “semi-retirement,” continuing existing partner relationships, but not forming new partnerships in 2012.

“This Award of Merit is a blockbuster for me,” said Campbell. “I am surprised, delighted, and very appreciative that it comes my way. It is the highlight of a career that has been exhilarating, to put it mildly.”

Since Mrs. Cornwallis became Campbell’s first stakes winner in 1971, she has been followed by such Dogwood notables as Dominion, Domynsky, Nassipour, Southjet, Wallenda, Trippi, Smok’n Frolic, Limehouse, Cotton Blossom  and Aikenite. Dogwood won its first Eclipse Award in 1987 with the Steeplechaser Inlander. Dogwood raced 1990 Preakness Stakes winner Summer Squall, and his daughter Storm Song, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in 1996 and became the stable’s second Eclipse Award winner. Dogwood has raced 76 stakes winners (including 14 grade I winners) and six million-dollar earners.

“Very few people are pioneers and trendsetters in their line of business. Cot Campbell has been just that with the racing partnership concept—not only introducing it, but doing it at the highest level and with class all the way,” said Todd Pletcher, the five-time Eclipse Award winner as Outstanding Trainer, who has trained stakes winners for Campbell since 1996.

In addition to his racing interests, Campbell has served the industry in a variety of capacities. He was a founding member of the National Thoroughbred Association, which laid the groundwork for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. In 2004, Campbell was the Honor Guest of the Thoroughbred Club of America and that same year was called upon to chair the Thoroughbred industry-sponsored Sales Integrity Task Force. He has been the recipient of the John W. Galbreath Award for entrepreneurial excellence and leadership in the horse industry. In 1993, Campbell established the Dogwood Dominion Award honoring the “unsung heroes” of racing. It was named Dominion in honor of the Dogwood-owned horse’s hard-working, blue-collar running style.

Prior to his move into Thoroughbred racing, Campbell, who was born in New Orleans, was a successful advertising executive.  He started his own agency, Burton-Campbell Inc., in 1964 and helped grow it to become one of the largest advertising agencies in the South.  Campbell has written three books on racing: “Lightning in a Jar,” “Rascals and Racehorses,” and “Memoirs of a Longshot.”  Campbell and his wife, Anne, have two daughters, Lila and Cary.

The 41st Annual Eclipse Awards will be held on Monday, January 16 at the Beverly Wilshire (A Four Seasons Hotel) in Beverly Hills, Calif.  For hotel accommodations and Eclipse Awards ceremony reservations, contact Michele Ravencraft at the NTRA’s Lexington office, (800) 792-6872, or e-mail mravencraft@ntra.com. 
The Eclipse Awards, presented by the Daily Racing Form and Breeders’ Cup, are bestowed upon horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements in North America have earned them the title of Champion in their respective categories. Those awards are voted by NTRA, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB). Awards also are given to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) announced today that Bob Mayberger of Albany, N.Y., has won the 2011 Media Eclipse Award for Photography for his panoramic picture of Thoroughbreds jumping over a fence during the A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 4. The photo appeared on the Sports Illustrated Snapshot web site that same day.

This is the first Eclipse Award for Mayberger, 58, a staff photographer for Eclipse Sportswire.

For his winning photo, Mayberger, who began taking pictures from the Saratoga grandstand 10 years ago, placed his Nikon D300 remote at the base of the mid-stretch fence at Saratoga, prior to the Smithwick, which was the first race of the day. The picture’s ‘fisheye” effect captures six horses from the ground-level under an oval shaped, cloud-dotted sky. To the left of photo, three horses are seen leaping over the fence with the tote board as a background, and to the right, the image reveals the sweep of the classic grey Saratoga roof of the grandstand. 

“I am unbelievably surprised and happy that I’ve won an Eclipse Award considering the number of outstanding and talented photographers that enter the competition each year,” said Mayberger, who photographed 225 stakes races in 2011. “It was a beautiful day at Saratoga and I thought I would try a fisheye photo on the Steeplechase course for the first time.  Steeplechase racing allows you to get a shot of something the average person doesn’t normally see. I know how lucky I am.”

Mayberger, who is a lawyer at a New York State appeals court, first gained recognition as a photographer in 2008 for a widely circulated photo he took of a loose horse shoe on Big Brown during the colt’s failed attempt to sweep the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes.

Honorable mention in the Photography category went to Barbara Livingston for her photograph of a double rainbow over the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs, which first appeared on the Daily Racing Form Web site on April 30.

Judges in the Photography category were Mike Kane, Thoroughbred journalist and photographer; John Engelhardt, Director of Publicity at River Downs, and Dan Johnson, former writer and photographer for the Des Moines Register.

The Eclipse Awards, presented by the Daily Racing Form and Breeders’ Cup, are bestowed upon horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements in North America have earned them the title of Champion in their respective categories. Those awards are voted by NTRA, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB). Awards also are given to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing.

The 41st Annual Eclipse Awards will be held on Monday, January 16 at the Beverly Wilshire (A Four Seasons Hotel) in Beverly Hills, Calif.  For hotel accommodations and Eclipse Awards ceremony reservations, contact Michele Ravencraft at the NTRA’s Lexington office, (800) 792-6872, or e-mail mravencraft@ntra.com.

Bob Mayberger

JENNIE REES WINS FOR NEWS/ENTERPRISE WRITING

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters (NTWAB) today announced that Jennie Rees has won the 2011 Media Eclipse Award for Writing in the News/Enterprise category for “Breeders’ Cup 2011: Jockeys Rein in Their Emotions,” which appeared in the Louisville Courier-Journal on Oct. 30.

This is the third writing Media Eclipse Award for Rees, who resides in Louisville and has been the Thoroughbred racing writer for the Courier-Journal since 1983.

In her article, Rees examined the circumstances and aftermath of the altercation between jockeys Calvin Borel and Javier Castellano which ensued in the winner’s circle following the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Marathon and explored the reasons for how these situations are normally resolved. In addition to the principals involved, Rees interviewed jockeys Robby Albarado, Jon Court, Ramon Dominguez, and former riders Gary Stevens and Richard Migliore.  Some riders revealed that they were sometimes more concerned about receiving suspensions for careless riding than they were for the welfare of their fellow competitors in the jockeys’ colony – until their rival actually hit the ground.

“We’re always looking for stories that will be of interest to a general audience during the showcase weeks of racing coverage, such as the Breeders’ Cup,” Rees said. “Having covered Borel for years and also Castellano, the explosion of emotions from these two gentlemen after the Breeders’ Cup was jolting. It got me thinking about the unique dynamics of the jocks’ room. Unlike anything else in professional sports, not only do these highly motivated athletes have to go back in the locker room and be with their competitors, there’s the safety factor where their welfare on the track in large measure rests in each other’s hands.

“We felt it was a topic that had not been fully explored. I really want to thank my newspaper and sports editor Harry Bryan for committing the time and space to tell this story. But what made the story was all the jockeys who spoke so candidly about involvement in such sometimes unpleasant situations.”

Link to this article may be found at:

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20111029/SPORTS08/310290116/Breeders-Cup-2011-Jockeys-rein-their-emotions

Rees won her first Eclipse Award in 1988 for a profile of trainer D. Wayne Lukas, which appeared in the Sunday Magazine of the Courier-Journal, and won her second Eclipse for Newspaper writing in 1993 on horse injuries. She also collaborated with other members of courierjournal.com for a 2008 Eclipse Award in Audio and Multi Media Internet category.

Honorable mentions in the News/Enterprise category went to Joe Drape for “Ex-Racehorses Starve as Charity Fails Mission to Care for Them,” about the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which was published by the The New York Times on March 18; and to Ryan Goldberg for “Lasix: Demystifying the Drug, Methods of Training Without it,” which appeared in Daily Racing Form on November 17.

The panel of judges for the News/Enterprise Writing category was comprised of Michael Brunker of MSNBC.com; Reid Cherner of USA Today and Bob Kieckhefer of United Press International.

NOVAK OF ESPN.COM WINS  FOR FEATURE/COMMENTARY WRITING  

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters (NTWAB) today announced that Claire Novak has won the 2011 Media Eclipse Award for Writing in the Feature/Commentary category for “Pressure off Durkin at Belmont,” which appeared on ESPN.com on June 10.

This is the first Media Eclipse Award for Novak, a native of Lake Zurich, Ill., who now resides in Lexington, Ky., and is a horse racing correspondent for ESPN.com.

Prior to this year’s Belmont Stakes, Novak wrote a profile of the renowned racecaller Tom Durkin, on his reflections weeks after his decision to step down early in 2011 as the NBC Sports’ “Voice of the Triple Crown.” In the piece, Durkin revealed his anxieties, the nerve-racking preparations to leave the network position, but also a man more at peace with his new circumstances. Novak also spoke to Louisiana Downs’ racecaller Travis Stone, who idolized Durkin growing up, and the thoughts of Larry Collmus, who replaced Durkin as NBC’s Triple Crown announcer.  

“It’s a great honor to win an Eclipse Award and something I wished for as a kid growing up,” said Novak, who began writing about Thoroughbred racing after graduating high school. ”Tom Durkin is one of the most recognized and respected fixtures of our industry. Everybody knows his name, but did people really know what he was going through calling these major network races?  I wanted to convey this emotional part of his career and his reaction to the changes he was experiencing.”

Novak, who founded Hopeful Farm Foundation with Children with special needs in Lexington, also gave special thanks to Larry Goff, web editor for the racing site on ESPN.com.

The complete article is available at:  http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown2011/news/story?id=6648531.

Honorable mentions in the Features/Commentary category went to Joe Drape for “A Day in the Life of Todd Pletcher,” which was published in The New York Times on August 21, and to Bob Ehalt for his two part series on the “1971 Triple Crown,” which appeared in Thoroughbred Times on April 30 and May 21.

The panel of judges for the Feature/Commentary Writing category was comprised of Bob Curran of The Jockey Club; Jane Goldstein, former publicity director of Santa Anita Park and Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun.

The Eclipse Awards, presented by Daily Racing Form and Breeders’ Cup Limited, are bestowed upon horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements have earned them the title of Champion in their respective categories. The equine and human awards are voted upon by NTRA, Daily Racing Form and members of the NTWAB. Awards also are given to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing.

The 41st Annual Eclipse Awards will be held on Monday, January 16, 2012 at the Beverly Wilshire (A Four Seasons Hotel) in Beverly Hills, Calif. For hotel accommodations and Eclipse Awards dinner reservations, contact Michele Ravencraft at the NTRA’s Lexington office, (859) 422-2657, or e-mail mravencraft@ntra.com.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Monday that Jeannine Edwards, senior broadcast analyst for ESPN, will host the 41st annual Eclipse Awards Presented by Daily Racing Form and Breeders’ Cup Limited. The Eclipse Awards, which honors the 2011 champions of Thoroughbred racing, will be held at the Beverly Wilshire (A Four Seasons Hotel) in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Monday evening January 16, 2012.  Edwards becomes the first female to host the Eclipse Awards ceremony.

“I’m extremely proud, flattered and honored to be hosting the Eclipse Awards—racing’s Oscars,” said Edwards, who resides outside of Baltimore in Colora, Md.  “I want to thank the NTRA for this extraordinary opportunity.  Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been in love with horses and racing.  For me, the Eclipse Awards would come along every year and be the anxiously-awaited, crowning moment of a season’s worth of indelible achievements.  With so many divisions up in the air, I’m just as eager as everyone else to see who will be taking home the hardware. It humbles me to think I will be a part of this year’s ‘crowning moment.’”

Edwards has been consistently named as one of the top 10 female sportscasters by several media outlets including Sports Illustrated which also named her “Best Broadcaster in Horse Racing” in 2004 and #1 Broadcaster on Television for October 2007.

“Jeannine is not just a talented on-air personality, but also one of the most universally admired and respected people associated with the Thoroughbred industry,” said Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the NTRA. “We are delighted to have her as the host of the upcoming Eclipse Awards.”

In 2009, Jeannine’s broadcast team won an Eclipse Award for Outstanding Live Telecast for the Belmont Stakes on ABC, as well as an Emmy nomination for the Breeders’ Cup on ESPN. That same team again won the Eclipse Award in 2010 for the Breeders’ Cup on ESPN, as well as a 2010 Emmy nomination for the same event.

A native of Tenafly, N.J., Edwards spent 10 years on the racetrack as an exercise rider, apprentice jockey, and trainer in New York and New Jersey before initially getting into television in 1994 as an in-house TV host at racetracks in Maryland.

Edwards started on ESPN as a studio analyst for “National Best 7″ in 1995. The show was transformed into “2Day at the Races” and ran for five years. During that time, Edwards also began reporting on-site for remote racing telecasts as well as branching out into sideline reporting for college football and, later, college basketball. Edwards became a general assignment reporter shortly thereafter on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Among the news stories covered by Edwards for SportsCenter are the steroid scandal of Rafael Palmeiro, the death of Sean Taylor, the sentencing of Gilbert Arenas, the indictment of Jamal Lewis, the return to football of Deion Sanders, and the retirements of Joe Gibbs and Shaquille O’Neal. Edwards was also recognized for her outstanding reporting for ESPN, ABC News and Good Morning America on the injury and subsequent death of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

Tickets for the Eclipse Awards are available for $400 each or $4,000 for a table of 10. For ticket purchases and room reservations, please contact Michele Ravencraft of the NTRA at mravencraft@ntra.com, or call (859) 422-2657. Order forms for tickets are available at www.ntra.com/eclipsetickets.

The Eclipse Awards Presented by Daily Racing Form and Breeders’ Cup Limited are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies.

The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading Thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers, horseplayers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on the NTRA web site, NTRA.com.