ESPN and NBC Sports have both been awarded Media Eclipse Awards for Television, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) announced Tuesday.
ESPN won in the feature programming category for its news magazine program E:60 feature “Barnyard Buddies,” on the unusual relationships between racehorses and stable companion animals. This is the second Eclipse Award for E:60, which won the Television Features category in 2012 for “Notinrwildestdremz,” about an abandoned and neglected Thoroughbred retuning to the races. It is also the sixth overall Feature Television Eclipse Award for ESPN.
In “Barnyard Buddies,” the E:60 team traveled to California, New York and Kentucky to gather stories on how goats, chickens, donkeys and other animals can be invaluable companions to Thoroughbreds. One example of this is Sancho, a cat who partnered with champion sprinter Runhappy. The feature, narrated by reporter Ryan McGee, contained interviews with Triple Crown-winning trainers Bob Baffert and Billy Turner, and Michael Blowen of Old Friends Farm.
“We wanted to produce a fun, light-hearted story, but at the same time explain that horses are 'pack animals' that tend to get nervous,” said Tonya Malinowski, E:60 associate producer. “They need companions to keep them calm and travel with them, and a calm and happy horse performs better.”
In addition to Malinowski, Heather Lombardo and Mike Johns were supervising producers, and Megan Anderson was the field producer. Nate Hogan was the editor. Andy Tennant is Executive Producer of E:60.
Runner up honors in the Feature television category went to Comcast Sports Philadelphia for “The Horse of a Lifetime–American Pharoah,” produced by Greg Magruder, which aired Jan. 16, 2016.
NBC Sports won its Media Eclipse in the Live Race Programming category for its broadcast of the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 5. This is the 13th Media Eclipse Award in this category for NBC. The one-hour primetime telecast included post-race analysis by winning jockey Mike Smith with winning trainer Bob Baffert.
“Nearly 40 cameras were deployed to showcase two incredible days of racing set against the beautiful backdrop of Santa Anita Park and the San Gabriel Mountains,” said Rob Hyland, coordinating producer of NBC Sports Group's horse racing coverage. “Our production team did an excellent job covering the dramatic finish of the Breeders' Cup Classic between California Chrome and Arrogate. NBC Sports is fully committed to growing the sport of horse racing, and I am extremely proud of the high standards and passion our entire production team has for this sport.”
The Breeders' Cup World Championships broadcast was produced by Billy Matthews and was directed by Jeff Simon. NBC Sports Group's coverage of the Breeders' Cup Classic was hosted by Mike Tirico and Tom Hammond, a veteran NBC Sports commentator; analysts were Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey and five-time Breeders' Cup Classic winner; handicappers Bob Neumeier and Eddie Olczyk; reporters Donna Brothers, Nick Luck, Carolyn Manno, Laffit Pincay III and Kenny Rice. Larry Collmus was the race caller.
THE DRF won a Media Eclipse for “Time Bandits” which profiled the longevity of Hall of Fame jockeys Alex Solis, Mike Smith and Gary Stevens. The story concept, text and rider profiles of “Time Bandits,” which first appeared June 6, were written by Executive Columnist Jay Hovdey, who has won four previous Media Eclipse Awards for writing. Barbara Livingston, a three-time Eclipse Award winning photographer, contributed the main photographs for the entry. Molly McGill produced the video elements of the piece.
“It was a chance to put a spotlight on the mental and physical challenges that jockeys have as they age, especially those accustomed to such a high level of achievement,” said Hovdey. “These are three fascinating guys who have written a lot of racing history.”
Also contributing for Daily Racing Form on “Time Bandits” were Web Producers Neil Bisman and Matt Brennan; Jim Sewastynowicz, Photography Editor; Jody Swavy, Editor in Chief and Irwin Cohen, Senior Editor.
Honorable mention in the Audio/Multi-Media and Internet category went to Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN) for its live coverage of the 2016 GI Kentucky Derby, which aired May 7, 2016; and to the Louisville Courier-Journal for its “24 Hours at Churchill Downs,” a multi-media presentation which appeared on the publication's website May 3.
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