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NTWA NEWS
Jones, who saddled runners-ups in the Kentucky Derby in 2007 and ?08 and will retire from training later this year, will receive the Mr. Fitz Award during the 50th annual NTWA Awards Dinner on November 4 at the Altadena Town and Country Club.
Presented annually to an individual or group for typifying the spirit of horse racing, the Mr. Fitz Award is named for the late Hall of Fame trainer Jim ?Sunny Jim? Fitzsimmons. Past winners of the Mr. Fitz Award include 2008 recipient Luke Kruytbosch, Calvin Borel, Racing Hall of Fame trainers Nick Zito, H. Allen Jerkens, and Bob Baffert, and Team Barbaro.
A trainer for nearly three decades primarily based at Ellis Park before relocating his main operation to Delaware Park, Jones earned national attention in 2007 when he sent out Hard Spun to runner-up efforts in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders? Cup Classic. Jones won the 2008 Kentucky Oaks with eventual champion Proud Spell and was thrust into the national spotlight the next day when the filly Eight Belles suffered a fatal breakdown following her runner-up finish in the Kentucky Derby. Widely credited by the industry for how he handled the situation, Jones returned to the Derby again in 2009 with Louisiana Derby winner and morning-line favorite Friesan Fire.
Robbins, a president of Oak Tree and past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, will receive the Joe Palmer Award. Named for the former New York Herald Tribune Turf writer, the Palmer Award is presented annually for meritorious service to racing. Past winners of the Palmer Award are 2008 winner Chris McCarron, fellow veterinarians Dr. Larry Bramlage and Dr. Dean Richardson, and Laffit Pincay Jr., John Gaines, and James E. ?Ted? Bassett III.
A practicing veterinarian at California racetracks since 1945 and patriarch of a successful racing family, Robbins is a member of the Jockey Club and director emeritus of the Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation and the University of California Center for Equine Health. Robbins and his wife Maggie have been involved in various ownership partnerships and campaigned such top runners as Nostalgia?s Star, Most Host, Guilton Madero, and Honeys Gem.
Farley, president of the NTWA from 1982 to ?86, will receive the Walter Haight Award named for the former Washington Post Turf writer and columnist and presented annually for excellence in Turf writing.
Farley has served as American correspondent for Racing Post since its inception in 1986. Also a past president of American Horse Publications, Farley started in the editorial department at The Blood-Horse in 1971 and later assisted the late William H. P. Robertson in 1974 in compiling a book on the first 100 years of The Thoroughbred Record titled ?Hoofprints of a Century.? He worked as staff writer, managing editor, and editor at the Record until 1982, covered American racing for Pacemaker International from ?82-?85, and later worked for the International Racing Bureau.
Past winners of the Haight Award include 2008 recipient Maryjean Wall, Steve Crist, Steve Haskin, Billy Reed, and William Leggett, and Kent Hollingsworth.
For more information contact:
Tom Law
NTWA President
859-260-9800 ext. 125
Louisville, Ky. – The National Turf Writers Association reelected one individual to the organization’s board of directors, elected two others to the board, and approved the membership for seven other individuals during its semi-annual meeting on April 30 at Churchill Downs.
Freelance writer Vic Zast, a member of the NTWA board since 2007, was reelected to a two-year term. Mike Brunker, Turf writer and projects team editor for MSNBC and Washington-based correspondent of Thoroughbred Times; and Greg Hall, Turf writer and Thoroughbred industry business writer for the Louisville Courier-Journal, were also elected to the board.
Brunker and Hall replace Los Angeles Daily News’ Kevin Modesti and freelance writer Jill Williams, whose terms on the board expired at the NTWA’s semi-annual meeting.
“The NTWA is glad to welcome Vic back to its board and we thank Kevin and Jill for their great contributions to the organization over the last few years. They will be sorely missed on the board,” NTWA President Tom Law said. “Jill was a particularly valuable member of the executive team during her stint as secretary/treasurer and helped immensely on many NTWA projects, including our annual awards dinner.”
The other individuals on the six-member board are Hank Wesch of the San Diego Union Tribune, Richard Rosenblatt of The Associated Press, and Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form.
In addition to electing board members, the NTWA approved the Regular membership applications of freelance writer Kim French, Will Graves of The Associated Press, Beth Harris of The Associated Press, Frances Karron of ST Publishing, Tim Nichols of Thoroughbred Times, Brendan O’Meara of The Saratogian, and Art Wilson of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group.
The NTWA, whose membership regularly writes on Thoroughbred racing or publishes handicapping information, formed in the late 1950s to promote, foster, and encourage closer relationships among its members. The organization also seeks to provide improved working conditions, better understanding between its members and the governing powers of Thoroughbred racing, and the development of Thoroughbred racing and breeding.
Retired Racing Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, the late track announcer Luke Kruytbosch, and multiple Media Eclipse Award-winning Turf writer Maryjean Wall will be honored later this year with awards presented by the National Turf Writers Association.
McCarron, who retired from the saddle in 2002 as the sport’s all-time leading rider by purses won, will receive the Joe Palmer Award during the 49th annual NTWA Awards Dinner on October 22 at Castle Green in Pasadena, California. Named for the former New York Herald Tribune Turf writer, the Palmer Award is presented annually for meritorious service to racing. Past winners of the Palmer Award are Steve Cauthen, Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay Jr., John Gaines, Charlie Whittingham, Secretariat, and 2007 winner Dr. Larry Bramlage.
A native of Boston, Massachusetts, McCarron currently serves as executive director and instructor at the North American Riding Academy, a school based at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and designed for aspiring jockeys that he founded in 2006. Along with his wife, Judy, and comedian Tim Conway, McCarron also created the Don MacBeth Memorial Fund for disabled jockeys and served as an executive at Santa Anita Park after his retirement from riding.
Winner of the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey in 1974 and the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey in ’80, McCarron led North America by races won three times and by money won four times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.
McCarron was previously honored by the NTWA with the Mr. Fitz Award in 2002.
Kruytbosch, the announcer at Churchill Downs and the voice of the Kentucky Derby since 1999 who passed away on July 14, will be honored posthumously with the Mr. Fitz Award. Presented annually to an individual or group for typifying the spirit of horse racing, the Mr. Fitz Award is named for the late Hall of Fame trainer Jim “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons. Past winners of the Mr. Fitz Award include 2007 recipient Calvin Borel, Joe Hirsch, John Henry, Penny Chenery, and Bob Baffert.
An avid racing fan on and off the job, Kruytbosch was a graduate of the Race Track Industry Program at the University of Arizona who called races at Ellis Park and Turf Paradise at the time of his death at age 47. Known for his distinct baritone voice and charismatic personality, Kruytbosch had been the track announcer at Hollywood Park, Ruidoso Downs, The Downs at Albuquerque, Santa Fe Downs, Sunland Park, and Fair Meadows at Tulsa during his career.
Wall, a Turf writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader from 1973 until her retirement earlier this year, will receive the Walter Haight Award named for the former Washington Post Turf writer and columnist and presented annually for excellence in Turf writing. Wall grew up in Canada and wanted to be a jockey until she later turned to writing when she moved to Kentucky in 1966.
One of the first women to cover racing on a full-time basis, Wall won Media Eclipse Awards in 1980, ‘97, and ‘99. She was also a three-time winner of Standardbred racing’s John Hervey Award. Wall currently writes about racing on her website, www.maryjeanwall.com, and is working to complete her dissertation for a Ph.D. in history at the University of Kentucky.
Past winners of the Haight Award include 2007 recipient Dick Jerardi, Bill Nack, Bill Leggett, Jennie Rees, and Jay Hovdey.
For more information contact:
Tom Law
NTWA President
859-260-9800 ext. 125
Law, 36, was first elected to a two-year term to serve the organization of about 200 writers who cover Thoroughbred racing during the 2006 meeting at Churchill. A native of Saratoga Springs, New York, and resident of Lexington, Law has been a member of the editorial staff at Thoroughbred Times since 1998, serving as staff writer, deputy news editor, news editor, and managing editor.
The NTWA also reelected USA Today's Tom Pedulla as vice president and elected Thoroughbred Times News Editor Ed DeRosa as secretary/treasurer during the meeting. DeRosa succeeds Jill Williams, a Lexington-based freelance writer who has served with the organization since 2005, as secretary/treasurer.
In addition to its team of officers, the NTWA elected four members to its six-member board of directors.
Williams was elected to complete the remaining two-year term of DeRosa on the board. Hank Wesch of the San Diego Union-Tribune was reelected to a two-year term on the board, while Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form and Richard Rosenblatt of The Associated Press were elected to two-year terms. Williams, Wesch, McGee, and Rosenblatt join freelancer Victor Zast and Los Angeles Daily News' Kevin Modesti on the NTWA board.
The NTWA also approved membership applications of Larry Stewart of the Los Angeles Times, Brain Nadeau of ST Publishing, and Bob Cooke of The Racing Journal during the semi-annual meeting.
The NTWA, whose membership regularly writes on Thoroughbred racing or is a published handicapper, was formed in the late 1950s to promote, foster, and encourage closer relationships among its members. The organization also seeks to provide improved working conditions, better understanding between its members and the governing powers of Thoroughbred racing, and the development of Thoroughbred racing and breeding.
For more information contact:
Tom Law
NTWA President
Thoroughbred Times
859-260-9800 ext. 125
Racing Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze,
Baze, who rode his 10,000th winner on February 1 at Golden Gate Fields, won the first nine Isaac Murphy Awards and now collects his third straight. He finished the 2007 season with a winning percentage of 32.9% after winning 399 races from 1,211 mounts. Baze won easily over runner-up Ricky Frazier, who posted a 26% win percentage, and third-place finisher Mario Gutierrez, who won at a 25% clip.
Presented by the National Turf Writers Association, the Isaac Murphy Award is named in honor of the 19th century African American jockey who won with 44% of his career mounts. Jockeys need to have ridden a minimum of 500 races to be eligible for the award. Baze will receive his honor from the National Turf Writers Association later this year.
Baze became
Rounding out the top ten leading jockeys in 2007 by winning percentage were Jeremy Rose (24.3%), John Davila Jr. (24.2%), Glenn Corbett (23.8%), 2004 Isaac Murphy Award winner Ramon Dominguez (23.8%), Joe Crispin (23.5%), E. T. Baird (22.7%), and Alex Birzer (22.6%).
August, 15 2007
Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel, noted veterinary surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage, and award-winning racing journalist Dick Jerardi will be honored later this year with awards presented by the National Turf Writers Association
Borel, who rode champion Street Sense to his historic victory in the Derby on May 5 at Churchill Downs, will receive the Mr. Fitz Award during the 48th annual NTWA Awards Dinner on October 24 during a chartered yacht cruise that leaves from Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey and will sail around the Statue of Liberty and past the picturesque Manhattan skyline.
Presented annually to an individual or group for typifying the spirit of racing, the award is named for the late Hall of Fame trainer Jim "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons. Past winners of the Mr. Fitz Award include 2006 recipient ‘Team Barbaro,’ Bill Shoemaker, Chris McCarron, Pat Day, Laffit Pincay Jr., Robert and Beverly Lewis, and John Henry.
A native of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, Borel rides on the Kentucky-Arkansas-Louisiana circuit and has ridden more than 4,000 winners. Borel’s winning ride on Street Sense in the Kentucky Derby enabled the Street Cry colt to become the first winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby and also the first two-year-old champion to win the Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1979.
Dr. Bramlage will receive the Joe Palmer Award, named for the former New York Herald Tribune Turf writer and presented annually for meritorious service to racing.
A native of Kansas and a graduate of Kansas State University, Dr. Bramlage is an equine orthopedic surgeon who serves as chief of surgery at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Introduced to Thoroughbred racing at Fonner Park in Grand Island, Nebraska, Dr. Bramlage has since traveled to many of the world’s most prestigious racetracks and lectured on six continents and in 33 countries. Dr. Bramlage has also served as a key member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners "On-Call" program since its inception in 1993. The "On-Call" program provides veterinary information to television broadcasts and print media during major races such as Triple Crown events and the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Dr. Bramlage is the second veterinarian to be honored with the Joe Palmer Award, following last year’s recipient Dr. Dean Richardson and the New Bolton Center. Other winners include John Gaines, Secretariat, E. P. Taylor, and Alfred Vanderbilt.
Jerardi, the lead Turf writer for the Philadelphia Daily News since 1985, will receive the Walter Haight Award named for the former Washington Post Turf writer and columnist and presented annually for excellence in Turf writing. A longtime racing enthusiast who also serves as the paper’s lead college basketball writer, Jerardi was presented the Media Eclipse Award in the news/commentary category earlier this year for his coverage of Barbaro’s injuries suffered in the 2006 Preakness Stakes.
Jerardi is also a four-time winner of the Red Smith Kentucky Derby Writing Award in 2006, ’05, ‘97, and ‘91, a two-time winner of the Joe Hirsch Breeders’ Cup Newspaper Writing Award in ‘96 and ‘99, and the winner of the David F. Woods Memorial Award for best the Preakness story in ‘05. Other winners of the Walter Haight Award include Steve Crist, Andy Beyer, Bill Nack, Bill Leggett, Joe Hirsch, and Red Smith.
For a PDF Version of this Release, click here.
For more information contact:
Tom Law
NTWA President
859-260-9800 ext. 125
Louisville, Ky. – The National Turf Writers Association reelected one individual to the organization's board of directors, elected two others to the board, and approved the membership for another individual during its semi-annual meeting on Thursday at Churchill Downs.
Kevin Modesti, columnist and sports editor of the Los Angeles Daily News, was reelected to the board after his two-year term expired. Ed DeRosa, news editor of Thoroughbred Times, and freelance writer Vic Zast were also elected to the board.
DeRosa and Zast replace Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman and CBS Radio/Sportingnews.com's Brad Telias, whose two-year terms on the board expired at the NTWA's semi-annual meeting.
"I can't thank Jay and Brad enough for their efforts on the board on behalf of the NTWA," NTWA President Tom Law said. "They have contributed in such a positive way to our organization and are a credit to the racing journalism profession. They will be sorely missed. The organization is pleased to have Kevin back and welcomes Ed and Vic to the board."
The other individuals on the six-member board are Dave Johnson of Sirius Satellite Radio, Sherry Ross of the New York Daily News, and Hank Wesch of the San Diego Union Tribune.
In addition to electing board members, the NTWA approved the membership of Jenny Blandford, assistant daily news editor of Thoroughbred Times.
The NTWA, whose membership regularly writes on Thoroughbred racing or is a published handicapper, was formed in the late 1950s to promote, foster, and encourage closer relationships among its members. The organization also seeks to provide improved working conditions, better understanding between its members and the governing powers of Thoroughbred racing, and the development of Thoroughbred racing and breeding.
For more information contact:
Tom Law
NTWA President
Thoroughbred Times
859-260-9800 ext. 125
Baze, who won the first nine Isaac Murphy Awards presented from 1995 to '03 and again in '05, finished the 2006 season with a winning percentage of 29.2% after winning 378 races from 1,294 mounts. Baze earned the award after finishing less than one percentage point ahead of John Davila Jr., who won on 28.5% of his mounts in 2006.
Presented by the National Turf Writers Association, the Isaac Murphy Award is named in honor of the 19th century African American jockey who won with 44% of his career mounts. Jockeys need to have ridden a minimum of 500 races to be eligible for the award. Baze will receive his honor from the National Turf Writers Association later this year.
A finalist for the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey in 2006, Baze etched his name into racing history last December when he overtook Laffit Pincay Jr. as the all-time leading rider in Thoroughbred racing history. He rode Butterfly Belle to victory in the fourth race on December 1 at Bay Meadows Race Course for his 9,531st career victory.
Rounding out the top ten leading jockeys in 2006 by winning percentage were 2004 Isaac Murphy Award winner Ramon Dominguez (27.1%), Joe Bravo (26.2%), Chad Schvaneveldt (23.6%), John Velazquez (23.2%), Julien Leparoux (23.2%), Jose Lezcano (22.9%), Harry Vega (22.7%), and Travis Dunkelberger (22.6%).
The new Eclipse Award, along with the existing 16 equine and human Awards, will be voted on by representatives of the three presenting organizations of the Eclipse Awards-the NTRA, Daily Racing Form and the NTWA-in December, and results will be announced in January of 2008. There will now be a total of 12 equine Eclipse Awards and five in human categories.
"Creating an Eclipse Award for female sprinters meshes logically and properly with the gender balances already in place in other Eclipse Award racing categories," said Steven Crist, Chairman and Publisher of Daily Racing Form. "While five females have won the Eclipse Award for Champion Sprinter over the years, there have been none since 1989, and in that time a great many outstanding filly and mare sprinters have unfortunately gone unrecognized."
"We received a lot of feedback from NTWA members and there was a near unanimous feeling that the move to create an Eclipse Award for Champion Female Sprinter was long overdue," said Tom Law, President of the National Turf Writers Association and Managing Editor of Thoroughbred Times. "It was also felt that expansion into other categories should be considered in the future, but not at this time."
"The suggestion to consider expansion came from a number of industry organizations and individuals who participate in the Eclipse Award voting process," said Keith Chamblin, Senior Vice President of the NTRA and a member of the Eclipse Awards Steering Committee. "Their interest in revising the awards to more accurately reflect the changing American racing landscape will receive further consideration over the next 10-12 months. Areas that will receive additional analysis going forward include the three-year-old turf divisions and the mile divisions on both dirt and turf. Attention will also be paid to the eventual impact of the new Breeders' Cup World Championship races."
Eclipse Awards are bestowed upon the Thoroughbred horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements have earned them the title of Champion in their respective divisions. 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 2007 Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony will be held January 22, 2008, at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, Calif.
November, 3 2006
After a cocktail hour and time to browse and bid on silent auction items, guests were called to their seats to enjoy a three course dinner and join in the presentation of awards to the aforementioned groups and individuals.
Bill Nack presented "Team Barbaro" -- the group of Barbaro himself, owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson, trainer Michael Matz, assistant trainer and exercise rider Peter Brette, and jockey Edgar Prado -- with the Mr. Fitz Award.
Bestowed upon an individual or group typifying the spirit of racing, the award is named for the late Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jim "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons.
"The injury to Barbaro this spring was the adversity of the most wrenching kind," said Nack. "And Team Barbaro acquitted themselves so well (in the midst of the catastrophe) that I suspect they ended up with more admirers and friends around the world than they would have if Barbaro had won the Triple Crown."
© James Clark Photography
Famed track announcer and NTWA
board member Dave Johnson
emcees the November 1 event.
Upon accepting the award, Roy Jackson joked that Barbaro had asked him to make some remarks on his behalf. "He wants to first honor you men and women of the press for your honest and straightforward reporting of this whole event. You've done a great service to the racing industry," Jackson said, citing the subjects of laminitis and the anti-slaughter bill.
"Barbaro also wants to thank the multitude of people that sent notes, carrots, you name it," he continued. "Lastly, he wanted to thank Dean Richardson and the whole staff at New Bolton for the care they've given him."
On another humorous note, Jackson related Barbaro's "requests" for Richardson to display his dancing talents during morning medical rounds, and finally, for the veterinarian to speed up his treatments because he's ready to "bring on the girls."
The Joe Palmer reward, which recognizes "meritorious service to racing," was presented to Richardson by well-known equine surgeon Dr. Wayne McIlwraith.
"(Richardson) has both a natural talent and a passion for what he does," McIlwraith said.
Upon accepting his award, Richardson expressed the honor of being linked with one of "the greatest athletes of the 20th century."
"There's still a long way to go--we really haven't accomplished anything yet," he added, giving all the recognition for Barbaro's improvements thus far to the Jacksons.
The Walter Haight Award was presented to Steven Crist by Bob Curran of The Jockey Club.
"No one loves Thoroughbred racing more than Steve, and few present it better," said Curran. The award is presented annually to an individual displaying an "excellence in turf writing."
© James Clark Photography
Artist Robert Clark graciously completes a live
painting of Barbaro at the dinner, then allows it
to be auctioned off with the $3,000
proceeds going to charity.
Also introduced at the dinner was NTWA/Youbet.com journalism scholarship recipient Jennifer MacDonald. A California native and the daughter of a former horse trainer and an HRTV graphics operator, MacDonald is studying journalism at California State University at Chico.
In addition, Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form received the Joe Hirsch Breeders' Cup Newspaper Writing Award, while Ed DeRosa was presented with the Bill Leggett Breeders' Cup Magazine Writing Award.
Dick Jerardi of the Philadelphia Daily News, Bob Ford and Mike Jensen of the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Wright Thompson of the Kansas City Star were also mentioned as this year's Red Smith Kentucky Derby Writing Contest winners.
The evening ended with a live auction of a painting of Barbaro by equine artist Bob Clark. The item brought $3,000 with all proceeds going to charitable causes.
November, 2 2006
© James Clark Photography
Inaugural Youbet.com/NTWA scholarship recipient
Jennifer MacDonald introduces herself to the NTWA
at the Awards Dinner on November 1.
"We're delighted to name Jennifer as our first recipient," said Champion. "She is a remarkable young lady and the very personification of what the Youbet/NTWA scholarship hopes to contribute to our industry: young people who, by virtue of their academic training, will make positive contributions to horse racing through literary or journalism careers."
MacDonald was raised around the horse racing industry in California where at a young age she helped her father, Brad MacDonald, by grooming, hot walking and ponying horses at Santa Anita. Her interest in journalism turned into a passion at Pasadena City College where she served as the news editor for the college paper and earned Dean's List Honors for the Fall 2005 and Spring 2006 semesters. Earning top-grades, McDonald also earned extra money working part-time for one of Youbet's online competitors. She is currently attending California State University at Chico, majoring in Journalism with a minor in Political Science.
"Being the first winner of this scholarship really adds to the excitement and honor I feel to be chosen," said MacDonald. "I love horses and hope to represent them well in my journalism career as a horse racing reporter."
Youbet.com, together with the National Turf Writers Association, first offered the scholarship program in December 2005 for the Fall 2006 academic year to provide aid to students attending accredited universities and pursuing degrees in journalism. The selection committee that reviews the applications and makes the final decision consists of representatives from NTWA, all professional turf writers themselves, along with Youbet and Race for Education.
The awards are based on academic accomplishment and potential, community service, racing industry knowledge or experience, financial need, and the quality of essays submitted by all applicants. Youbet's funding commitment will support as many as four (4) $10,000 scholarships each year and each is renewable for three additional years after the initial award provided grades and citizenship are maintained for a total of $160,000 for four years.
The Race for Education is a national education scholarship foundation funded by various parties with an interest in the thoroughbred racing industry. The nonprofit organization was established to improve the quality of life for young people through education; to attract younger and better-educated individuals to careers in the thoroughbred industry; and to establish the racing industry as a good citizen. Since its inception, the organization has awarded more than $1,000,000 in scholarship grants to students nationwide.
"Our mission is more than a financial commitment," said Collier. "The Race for Education makes a commitment to each of our students to help them get through college and be prepared for real-life after college. We are so pleased that Youbet and the NTWA have stepped up and funded this very lucrative effort. It means a lot to the students and to the industry."
Applications for the 2007 school year will be available after November 15, 2006 at www.racingscholarships.com.
'Team Barbaro' - the group of Barbaro himself, owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson, trainer Michael Matz, assistant trainer and exercise rider Peter Brette, and jockey Edgar Prado - will receive the Mr. Fitz Award during the 47th annual NTWA Awards Dinner on November 1 at The Olmstead in Louisville, Kentucky. Presented annually to an individual or group for typifying the spirit of racing, the award is named for the late Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jim ?Sunny Jim? Fitzsimmons. Past winners of the Mr. Fitz Award include Nick Zito, Bill Shoemaker, John Henry, Joe Hirsch, and Bob and Beverly Lewis.
Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby on May 6 at Churchill Downs by 6 1/2 lengths after running one of the fastest final quarter-miles in the race?s history to stay undefeated in six career starts. He suffered a career-ending injury two weeks later in the Preakness Stakes and is currently recovering from surgery to repair his broken right hind leg and subsequent laminitis contracted in his left hind leg.
Dr. Richardson and the New Bolton Center will receive the Joe Palmer Award, named for the former New York Herald Tribune Turf Writer and presented annually for meritorious service to racing.
Dr. Richardson is Chief of Surgery and the Charles W. Raker Professor of Equine Surgery at Penn Vet?s Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center. He is an internationally recognized orthopedic surgeon whose research focuses on cartilage repair and has been at New Bolton Center since 1979. New Bolton Center, which opened its doors to the media and staged timely press conferences in the immediate hours and days after Barbaro?s surgery, is located on a 700-acre tract of land in Kennett Square.
Past winners of the Joe Palmer Award include Laffit Pincay Jr., Richard Duchoissois, Eugene Melnyk, Charlie Whittingham, John Gaines, E. P. Taylor, Secretariat, and Allen Paulson.
Crist, chairman and publisher of Daily Racing Form, will receive the Walter Haight Award named for the former Washington Post Turf writer and columnist and presented annually for excellence in Turf writing. A graduate of Harvard University and a reporter and columnist for the New York Times from 1981-?90, Crist also founded the critically acclaimed daily newspaper The Racing Times. He later served as a member of New York Governor Mario Cuomo?s Commission on Racing and as a vice president of the New York Racing Association in the mid-1990s. Crist is also author and co-author of several books, including Exotic Betting, Betting on Myself: Adventures of a Horseplayer and Publisher, and The Horse Traders.
Crist is the second consecutive winner of the Walter Haight Award from the Form, joining 2005 winner Jay Privman. He also joins fellow Form writers Don Fair, Saul Rosen, Barney Nagler, Joe Hirsch, and Leon Rasmussen as winners of the award. Other previous winners include Steve Haskin, Jennie Rees, Andy Beyer, Ed Bowen, Bill Nack, Kent Hollingsworth, Bill Leggett, and Red Smith.
The National Turf Writers Association’s Charitable Foundation voted on June 7 to pledge $1,000 toward the Barbaro Gift Fund set up by the University of Pennsylvania and named in honor of injured Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.
“For the outstanding job the New Bolton Center has done since the evening of May 20, not only with Barbaro, but with handling the national media, the National Turf Writers Association Charitable Foundation is honored to donate $1,000 to the Barbaro Gift Fund,” said NTWA Charitable Foundation President Evan Hammonds. “In helping accommodate all forms of the national media, they gave us a leg up on the story, which has helped dramatically increase the awareness of the advances in the field of equine medicine.”
Donations to the Barbaro Gift Fund are used to support ongoing patient care and expansion of the George D. Widener Large Animal Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania’s renowned New Bolton Center in Kennett Square. The funds will not be used for the direct care of Barbaro, who was injured in the Preakness Stakes and underwent surgery to repair his injured right hind ankle at New Bolton.
The National Turf Writers Association, which consists of more than 200 professional journalists who cover North American Thoroughbred racing, is designed to promote, foster, and encourage a closer relationship among its members, improve working conditions, better understanding between its members and the governing powers of Thoroughbred racing, and develop Thoroughbred racing and breeding.
For more information contact:
Tom Law, NTWA President
Thoroughbred Times
859-260-9800 ext. 125
The National Turf Writers Association elected Thoroughbred Times Managing Editor Tom Law president at its semi-annual meeting on May 4 at Churchill Downs.
Law, 34, succeeds outgoing president Gary West of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as president of the organization of about 200 writers who cover Thoroughbred racing.
Law will be joined by new vice president Tom Pedulla of USA Today and returning secretary/treasurer Jill Williams, a Lexington-based freelance writer.
A lifelong racing enthusiast and a native of Saratoga Springs, New York, Law has been a member of Thoroughbred Times's editorial staff since 1998.
Law, who has previously served as the Times's news editor, deputy news editor, and staff writer, is a two-time winner of the Bill Leggett Breeders' Cup Magazine Writing Award. He won his first Leggett Award for his coverage of Caressing's victory in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Churchill Downs and the second for his coverage of Wilko's win in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Lone Star Park.
Law also received the 2003 Red Smith Kentucky Derby Writing Award in the Monday wrap-up category for his story titled “The Funny Cide of Racing” on the New York-bred gelding's historic victory.