NEWSLETTERS

Newsletter dated January 14, 2008

NTWA Newsletter from President Tom Law
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Greetings fellow Turf writers, I hope this note finds you all well and recovered from the holiday season and in the midst of a great New Year.

With the 2007 Eclipse Awards fast approaching, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the voting process and get some feedback from the membership to see if there are any questions, concerns, suggestions, etc. to make it even better. Hopefully all Regular members received their ballots in a timely manner and were able to vote prior to the January 2 deadline. If you encountered any problems with the voting process please let me know. So far I haven't heard of any problems, but that doesn't mean there were none.

The Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony is scheduled for Monday, January 21 at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. For those interested in covering the event in person, please contact the NTRA's Joan Lawrence by email (jlawrence@ntra.com) by January 18 or by cell (646-335-6833) after that date to receive credentials. Complete information on coverage of the event is listed below, including information on how to obtain an embargoed release.

The Turf Publicists of America will host the 42nd annual Big Sport of Turfdom Luncheon earlier in the day at Mastro's Steak House in Beverly Hills and this year's honoree is trainer Carl Nafzger. Cocktails start at 11 a.m. PT with lunch to follow at noon. I've attached information and the invitation below for members interested in attending.

Belated congratulations to Dan Liebman, former longtime secretary/treasurer of our organization who was promoted to Editor-in-Chief of The Blood-Horse late last year. Liebman becomes the sixth Editor-in-Chief in the 91-year history of The Blood-Horse. He joined the publication in 1993 as research director and later became executive editor in 1998. Prior to joining the Lexington-based Blood-Horse, Liebman served as Midwest deputy editor for The Racing Times from 1991 to '93 and was columnist for the Kentucky bureau of Daily Racing Form from '84 to '91.

A note passed along by Liebman noted the death of longtime Canadian sportswriter and columnist Milt Dunnell. The text of Dunnell's obituary is pasted below.

Finally, Jackie Rapp, winner of the 2007 National Turf Writers Association/Youbet.com Journalism Scholarship, passed along a note to NTWA officers and the Race For Education board of directors in late December updating her first semester at the University of Texas-Austin. Rapp earned a 4.0 GPA during her first semester pursuing a degree in Broadcast Journalism. The text of her note is pasted below.

Milt Dunnel obit:
Former columnist and sports editor Milt Dunnell, a Toronto Star legend and Hall of Fame journalist known for his deft turn of phrase and encyclopedic breadth of experience, has died. He was 102. Dunnell died at North York General Hospital late last night (Jan. 6), a source from the Star told The Canadian Press. Dunnell, who turned 102 on Christmas Eve, was an honoured member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the Football Reporters of Canada Hall of Fame. Dunnell was known around the newsroom as Mr. Sports or, more fondly, as Uncle Miltie.

 

Eclipse Awards coverage memo:
Eclipse Awards Media Coverage
The 37th annual Eclipse Awards will be held on Monday evening, January 21 in the Ballroom of the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel , 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, Calif.; 310-275-5200. Please contact Joan Lawrence by email (jlawrence@ntra.com) until January 18, or by cell phone afterward (646-335-6833), if you would like to be credentialed for the event. Your credential may be picked up in the Burgundy Room -- the NTRA Office/Media Center – located on the Mezzanine level, Beverly Wing, of the hotel beginning Monday, Jan. 21 at 3:00 p.m. PT. The Burgundy Room is one flight above the Ballroom.
Media members who wish to purchase a $300 dinner ticket (Black Tie) may email Debbie Blair (dblair@ntra.com). On site coverage by media members not purchasing a dinner ticket is also available as follows: Cocktail Hour (5-6 p.m. PT), men: coat and tie; women: dress or pants suit. The NTRA will provide media seating in the rear of the Ballroom during the awards program, which begins at 6:45 p.m. PT. Notebooks only, no laptops please. Media may file from the Burgundy Room where the live telecast of the awards program and complimentary food and beverages, will also be available.
The Horse of the Year announcement is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. PT (12:00 a.m. ET Tuesday). NTRA will bring the key connections to the Burgundy Room for interviews following the completion of the awards ceremony.
EMBARGOED PRESS RELEASE RULES
The embargoed press release containing the names and results of the 2007 Eclipse Awards winners in all equine and human categories and Horse of the Year will be distributed at 1:00 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 21 (10:00 a.m. PT) to those media members who have impacting deadlines for Tuesday publications. Please email Jim Gluckson (jgluckson@ntra.com) to request the embargoed release. The embargo will be lifted at 12:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, January 22, following the Horse of the Year announcement.
It is clearly understood that as part of the embargo agreement, media may NOT contact any Eclipse Award winners or second or third-place finishers prior to 12:00 a.m. ET, on Tuesday, Jan. 22 (9:00 p.m. PT on January 21) in order to preserve the surprise element of the announcements. Further, those media attending the event may not discuss results with any of the finalists present until after the program. Any media outlets breaking the embargo will forfeit the opportunity to receive the embargoed release in the future. Members of the media have been extremely conscientious in adhering to this agreement in prior years and the NTRA appreciates your cooperation again in this process.

 

Big Sport Invitation:
Turf Publicists of America, Inc.
Join us for the
42nd ANNUAL BIG SPORT OF TURFDOM LUNCHEON
HONORING
Carl Nafzger
Monday, January 21, 2008
Cocktails at 11:00 a.m.
Lunch at 12:00 p.m.
Mastro's Steak House
246 North Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

LUNCHEON TICKETS: $100 each / Table of 10: $900.00
Sponsored by Scientific Games, Hollywood Park and Keeneland
To become a sponsor, call Eric Wing at 212-230-9511

************************************************************************

BIG SPORT OF TURFDOM LUNCHEON

TICKET REQUEST FORM

Please make checks payable to Turf Publicists of America, Inc. and mail
to:
Dave Zenner, TPA Secretary/Treasurer, c/o Arlington Park, P.O. Box 7,
Arlington Heights, IL 60006-0007.

Please call in reservations to Julie Sarno, TPA Vice President, Western
Region, at 619-957-0465, e-mail to juliesarno2@roadrunner.com or fax
this sheet to 760-942-9038. The luncheon is open to the public.

Name:
________________________________________________________________________

Affiliation: __________________________________
Telephone number: ()______________

Individuals @ $100 each:
_____________________________________________________________

Group of 10 discount @ $900.00:
___________________________________________________________

Jackie Rapp letter:

Ladies and gentlemen:
I want to thank you all again so very much for selecting me as a Race for Education scholarship recipient. You have given me the opportunity to pursue higher education and without, my four-year experience at the University of Texas might not have been possible.
My first semester of college was quite an adjustment from the panhandle of Texas to the big city of Austin. I discovered that for every hour I spent in class, I needed to spend on average, 3 hours of studying and reading outside of class. After my initial round of tests, I figured out this method and managed to complete my first semester of college with a 4.0 GPA. I took biology, theatre, journalism, and spanglish (yes, this was a real class that gave me linguistic credit). Out of these classes, journalism was by far my favorite, which is good because I am on the path to pursuing a broadcast journalism degree. Next semester I am enrolled in English Literature, a Study Habits class, the last Biology class I'll ever have to take, and another Journalism course whcih consists of a heavy writing component. I look forward to the next semester going just as well as the first!
In addition to studying and going to class, I have joined a sorority. I was Pledge Class President of the Texas Alpha Pi Beta Phi Chapter, voted most likely to become Chapter President, and will continue to actively participate for the next four years. Pi Beta Phi's national philanthropy involves helping literacy rates and this past semester, I tutored a third-grade girl named Barbie once a week at Zavala Elementary School. In addition, I bowled on a team at the annual "Bowling for Literacy" event, hosted by my sorority. This past semester, Pi Phi and Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity had an hour-long Bible study once a week that I participated in as well.
My sorority also provides a great web of communication for job opportunities. One of the order Pi Phis works with the Executive Director at Texas Monthly Magazine. The entire chapter received an email stating that the director needed someone to pick up her 15-year-old son and take him to swim practice every day until he gets his license. After my interview, I was hired the next day. Because I have never had a job before, this has been a great way to start off my year with responsibility and learn how to balance school work with a simple job. My last day of work is January 29, and I will continue to keep my ears perked up for any other good opportunities.
Needless to say, my first semester at the University of Texas was met with success. I am adjusting to living nine hours away from home, I have found a good church home, I am making friends both in and out of my sorority, studying, maintaining a job, and keeping my grades and priorities intact. I want to thank you all again so much for making my college experience the best imaginable.
Sincerely,
Jackie Rapp

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