Said Militaru, a New York City resident, "We're very excited to have won. We were shooting last year's Eclipse Awards in California, and I turned to Craig and said, 'Wouldn't it be great if we were up here next year?'

"This was one of the most complicated projects that I've worked. It was a tremendous logistical challenge. We had to interview so many different people before the Triple Crown because we didn't know who was going to win. But it was incredible the kind of access we received and how many people were so cooperative through the experience. Our biggest break came when we interviewed the Sackatoga people [owners of Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide] before the Derby when no one was talking to them."

"Seabiscuit: The Making of the Movie," which aired on July 2 on ESPN2 followed by 12 subsequent airings between July 6 and Aug. 29 on ESPN Classic, was the other first place winner. Produced by Joan Ciampi, the program was displayed in a first-person format featuring interviews from the cast of the Universal Studios motion picture "Seabiscuit- The Making of a Legend," with "Seabiscuit" cast members Tobey Maguire, Chris Cooper, Jeff Bridges, Elizabeth Banks and Gary Stevens, and director/screenwriter Gary Ross. The production staff included Editor Josh Hinkle and cameraman Tom Stone. Overall, this is ESPN's fourth Eclipse Award for National Television and a first for producer Joan Ciampi.

It was a privilege to be a part of this project," said Ciampi. "The magnitude of the film was daunting, but Gary Ross appreciated what the movie could do for racing. Even though we were an outside crew, he embraced us and offered unprecedented access during the filming in Kentucky and Los Angeles. Without his trust, there would have been no show."

Honorable mention in the National television feature category went to NBC for its Jose Santos feature, produced by Sabrina Fodor, which aired on July 7, 2003.

Judges in this category were George Butler, White Mountain Films; Stu Kirshenbaum; independent producer and Paul Lucey; Fox Sports Net.

The KSPN ESPN Radio 710 entry titled, "56th Birthday Tribute to Laffit Pincay, Jr.," was co-produced by Kip Hannan and Vic Stauffer, and aired on December 29, 2002. It was a career retrospective of Thoroughbred racing's all-time winningest jockey, and included testimonials from celebrities and sports luminaries. "What a fantastic thrill," said Stauffer, who also wrote and narrated the entry. "It is especially great because we're being honored for two things that I love: our great game and Laffit Pincay, Jr." This is the first Media Eclipse Award for KSPN, and the second for Stauffer, who won in 1995 for KKAR radio.

The WBAL entry, titled "Pimlico's Homestretch?" focused on the pressing issues confronting Baltimore's historic racetrack and Maryland racing. It aired on May 17, 2003, during the station's live Preakness pre-race coverage. This is the sixth Media Eclipse Award for WBAL, which previously won in 1978, 1981, 1984, 1997 and 2001.

"The Eclipse is one of the most important awards that we can win," Miller said, who also acknowledged the contributions of Technical Producer Mike Wellbrock and reporters John Eisenberg, Chick Lang and John Patti. "While Thoroughbred racing may receive spot coverage around the country, for us, it's a year-round endeavor and commitment to the sport."

Honorable mention in the Audio category went to KSPN/ESPN Radio 710 for a piece produced by Mike Willman and featuring an interview with Richard Mandella. The piece aired on the "Thoroughbred Racing Los Angeles" radio show on November 2, 2003.

Judges for the Audio category were Mike Brunker of MSNBC.com; Jim Militello of Assoicated Press Radio and Ken Tomlinson of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

"The perfect synchronicity of our team makes it all possible," said Michaels, who produces NBC Sports' Thoroughbred racing coverage. "We are a family having too much fun to call it a real job. Winning the Eclipse Award sends to our group a message that we are on the right track. If ever there was a broadcast dream team, this is it."

Judges for the National Television - Live Racing Programming category were: Joel Feld of College Sports Television, Terry Hanson of Hanson Enterprises and Marty Rotberg of PBS affiliate WNET.

Honorable mentions in this category went to TVG and Fox Sports Net 2 telecast of the Hollywood Derby, produced by Tony Allevato, and to NBC Sports for its 2003 Breeders' Cup telecast, David Michaels producer.

"It is a great honor to be selected by the NTRA panel of judges as the winner of this most prestigious award, said G. D. Hieronymus. "I have been working in and around this sport for 25 years now and there is no greater achievement than winning an Eclipse Award. The creative writing of Jude Feld was truly an instrumental part of the success of this production."

Honorable mentions in this category go to Al Peterson of KEZI-TV in Eugene, Ore., for "Lucky the Forgotten Racehorse" and Tim Eck of Capitol News 9 in Albany, N.Y., for "Post Time at Saratoga."

Judges for the Local Television category were Bob Fishman of CBS Sports, Rob Duboff of Hawk Partners and independent producer Bud Lamoreaux.

Frank Anderson

Frank Anderson's Eclipse Award winning photo. The filly Classikas, part of a three-horse spill in the first turn of Keeneland's 1 1/16-mile first race on Saturday, April 12, is about to hurdle over injured rider Patti Cooksey after outriders were unable to corral her before she completed the circuit.

A 40-year employee of the Lexington Herald-Leader, Anderson, a resident of Versailles, Ky., said the award is especially significant because he had visited Cooksey in the hospital during her earlier battle with breast cancer while working on a story for the Herald-Leader the previous year.

"I saw the spill and went out on the press box roof, started shooting, and said to myself that someone was hurt very badly because they weren't moving," said Anderson. "When I got back to my computer to look at the pictures, another photographer came up to me and told me that it was Patty. Well, I just lost it. When I went to visit her in the hospital after the accident, she told me, 'At least the horse saw me. I saw his ears prick.'"

The panel of judges in the Photography category was comprised of Steve Fine of Sports Illustrated, Clem Murray of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Julia Schmalz of USA Today and Stephen Jesselli of The New York Times.

Commenting on the winner, Murray said the Anderson photo "was a newsworthy moment, capturing the emotions of anticipation and fear."

Honorable mentions in the Photography category went to Jeremy Lyverse of kentuckyderby.com for Funny Cide's Kentucky Derby win and Jeff Snyder of The Blood-Horse for Funny Cide's powerful move on the far turn at the Preakness Stakes.

"I wanted these columns to be my personal tribute to Bill as a racing fan and as a journalist," said Hovdey. "Since I began watching Bill ride Silky Sullivan on television with my grandfather in 1958, I have followed him my entire life. He's the one who everyone had to measure up to and no one really could." With a nod to Shoemaker's lighter side, Hovdey added, "He also played his share of pranks on me."

Honorable mention in the Writing -News/Commentary category went to Bill Nack for "Horse Handler" on trainer Richard Mandella, which appeared in the Nov. 1, 2003 edition of The Blood-Horse.

The panel of judges for the Writing - News/Commentary category was comprised of Reid Cherner of USA Today, Pete Coates of Bloomberg News and Steve Wulf of ESPN, The Magazine.

"I am delighted to win the Eclipse Award again," said Nack, who resides in Washington, D.C. "This was an article that was fun to do. I wanted to plow some unplowed ground with Bob and learn about his early days. It was also wonderful going down to Nogales [Arizona] and talking to Bill [Bob's older brother] and Ellie [Bob's mother]. They're a wonderful, tight-knit family. They showed me a lot of places where Bob grew up."

Honorable mention in the Features/Enterprise Writing category went to Barbara Bayer for "Roses to Ruin," which appeared in The Blood-Horse on July 26, 2003.

The panel of judges for the Features/Enterprise Writing category was comprised of Greg Michalson of Algonquin Books, Shailagh Murray of The Wall Street Journal and Kevin Conley of The New Yorker.