The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has announced that WBAL Radio in Baltimore has won the 2006 Media Eclipse Award in the Audio/Multi-Media Internet category for its live coverage of the 131st Preakness Stakes.
Produced by its News Director Mark Miller, WBAL's program presented day long coverage of this year's Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, beginning with reports from the barn area at 6:00 a.m. and continuing with reports and stories on the key connections and festivities during the day. WBAL had reporters on the spot immediately following the injury to Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, including interviews with veterinarians and racing officials. The station's reports continued through Barbaro's arrival at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center later that evening.
"It's safe to say that all of us in Baltimore value the tradition, the history and what the Preakness - the biggest sporting event each year in the state of Maryland - means to us," said Miller. "We are extremely proud to win the Eclipse Award again, and we are grateful to our CEO David Barrett (chief executive officer of parent company Hearst-Argyle) and station manager Jeff Beauchamp for providing us with the resources to not just cover the Preakness but to also devote year-round coverage to the Maryland horse industry."
WBAL staffed 11 producers and reporters at this year's Preakness. Miller made special mention of lead Thoroughbred reporter Scott Wycoff who covered the scene from the barns Preakness morning and sent back reports from New Bolton that evening; and to Keith Mills, WBAL morning sports anchor.
This is the seventh Media Eclipse Award for WBAL, which previously won in 1978, 1981, 1984, 1997, 2001 and 2004.
Honorable mention in the Audio Multi-media Internet category went to WVLK Radio in Lexington, Ky., for the "Kenny and Kenny Sports Show Plus" which aired a feature report "Saving Barbaro" on November 9. Kenny Rice was the producer.
Judges for the Audio/Multi Media Internet category were: Brian Horton of Associated Press Broadcast; Brian Rublein, former news director of WHAS Radio in Louisville and Mike Farrell, racing journalist and former UPI Radio reporter.
Eclipse Awards are given to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing. Eclipse Awards are bestowed upon horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements 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 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 2006 Eclipse Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, January 22, 2007 at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. For hotel accommodations and Eclipse Awards dinner reservations, contact Debbie Blair at the NTRA's Lexington office, (800) 792-6872, or e-mail dblair@ntra.com.
Photography Award
Audio or Multi-Media Internet Award
National Television Awards
Writing Awards
Local Television Award
