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. 

This is the third National Television Feature Media Eclipse Award for NBC, which previously won the award in 2002 and in 2005.

“The Story of Mine That Bird,” produced by Rob Hyland and Jack Felling, recounted the incredible tale of a lightly regarded 3-year-old who came from New Mexico – and from last place -, to win the 2009 Kentucky Derby. The documentary was narrated by Bob Costas.

According to Hyland, the documentary started to take shape shortly after Mine That Bird hit the wire in the Derby. “In conversations with Sam Flood (NBC Sports’ Coordinating Producer), we had to tell the story of a how a 50-1 longshot came to win the Derby,” said Hyland.  “There were so many layers of the story, filled with high drama, that we needed to let the viewers know.”

Supported by interviews with Mine That Bird’s owners, Dr. Leonard Blach and Mark Allen; trainer Chip Woolley and jockey Calvin Borel, NBC reached back to the colt’s 2-year-old season, his disappointing Derby preps at Sunland Park, Woolley’s 1,500-mile van ride to the Derby and his “walkover”’ to the Churchill Downs paddock while on crutches, and the jubilation of the connections following the race. 

“We edited around the clock for the next 12 days right up until the Preakness, as more parts to the story were unfolding,” Hyland added. Those unfolding events included the sale of Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra to Jess Jackson; Rachel Alexandra’s entry in the Preakness; and Borel’s decision to get off Mine That Bird to ride the filly in racing’s second jewel of the Triple Crown.

“Telling this story is the true essence of horse racing,” said Hyland. “It reminds us that anything can happen on any given day. For me, personally, it’s a true honor to win an Eclipse Award because my wife’s father is a horse trainer.” Hyland is married to Michelle Matz, daughter of Michael Matz, who trained 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

Honorable mention in the National Television Feature programming category went to HRTV for “Inside Information – Nowhere to Run” about recovery efforts at the Fair Grounds race track in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. The program aired on September 6, 2009. Amy Zimmerman was executive producer.

Judges in the National Television – Features category were Howard Sudberry, former sports director of WBBM- TV – Chicago; Peter Lasser of Lasser Productions and G.D. Hieronymus, Director of Broadcast Services for Keeneland Association.

ESPN RADIO WINS MEDIA ECLIPSE AWARD FOR 2009 KENTUCKY DERBY BROADCAST

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers Association announced today that ESPN Radio has won the 2009 Media Eclipse Award in the Audio/Multi-Media Internet category for its live coverage of last year’s Kentucky Derby on May 3.

“We’re thrilled and gratified to win the Eclipse Award,” said John Martin, Sr. Director and Executive Producer of ESPN Radio Event Production. “It’s a tremendous honor for ESPN radio and everyone who worked on the broadcast. “Radio is theatre of the mind.  What we try to do with the Derby is place the listener there in the middle of the tremendous excitement and ambient sound of the jockeys, trainers and the fans.”

For its two-hour live broadcast of the Derby, ESPN Radio reporters and analysts covered a wide range of news and feature topics surrounding the event, including the scratch of morning line favorite I Want Revenge; an examination of racing surfaces and safety measures in horse racing one year after the fatal injury to 2008 Derby runner up Eight Belles, and a feature on 75-year-old local trainer Tom McCarthy. 

The Kentucky Derby broadcast was hosted by Rece Davis, who was joined by analyst Jerry Bailey, reporters Bob Valvano, Ron Flatter and handicapper Jody McDonald.

Martin, who produced the broadcast, described the victory of 50-1 longshot Mine That Bird as an “exhilarating challenge” for his talent and crew, and credits his reporters and analysts for being on top of one of the greatest upsets in Derby history. “The great thing about live radio is that you can’t script the ultimate result. When things happen that you don’t expect – that’s when you need to be at your most creative.”

Honorable mention in the Audio/Multi-Media Internet category went to the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader for its Heraldleader.com multi-media Web site presentations of “Keeneland Blossoms for Spring Meet,” which first appeared on April 3, 2009. The site was produced by Ron Garrison, Director of Multi Media.

Judges for the Audio/Multi-Media Internet category were: Stu Kirshenbaum of Oak Street Films; Mike Farrell, racing journalist and former UPI Radio reporter and Mike Brunker of MSNBC.com.

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

The 39th Annual Eclipse Awards will be held on Monday, Jan. 18 at the Beverly Wilshire 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 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.