Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred

Stephan's Angel acts up while being saddled prior to running second in the Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 14.

"I'm thrilled to win this award in a business I love very much," said Pierson Dulay, a resident of Pickering, Ontario. "The connections decided not to saddle Stephan's Angel in the enclosed paddock at Pimlico and instead brought her outside in front of the stands. I do look for horses acting up from time to time, but this was a lucky shot."

The panel of judges in the Photography category was comprised of Steve Fine of Sports Illustrated, Clem Murray of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Danny Farrell, retired New York Daily News photographer.

Honorable mentions in the Photography category went to Bill Denver for his May 14 photo in USA Today of Smarty Jones galloping alone at Pimlico; and to Jonathan Palmer for capturing jockey Clayton Chipperfield performing a back flip dismount in a shot that appeared in The Steeplechase Times on April 23, 2004.

"To have won the Eclipse Award after this amazing year in racing is a great honor for our team at NBC Sports," Michaels said. "As the television market becomes more competitive, our 'dream team' of announcers and production people continues to push the envelope to put on the best possible telecast. The Triple Crown, just as it does for the horses and horsemen, makes us rise to the occasion and do the best job we possibly can."

Honorable mention in this category went to HD-Net for its coverage of the Santa Anita Derby on April 3, 2004. The show's producer was Darrell Ewalt.

Judges for the National Television - Live Racing category were: Marty Rotberg of PBS affiliate WNET; Kenneth Sheil, former NFL Films producer and Stuart Kirshenbaum of Oak Street Films.

"Smarty Jones: America's Horse" chronicles the quest of last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner through the eyes of the key individuals for the Visa Triple Crown. The half-hour program included interviews with trainer John Servis, jockey Stewart Elliott and owner Roy Chapman before and after their Triple Crown run.

Executive Producers of "Smarty Jones: America's Horse" were Mark Shapiro and Michael Antinoro. The program was produced by Fredrick "Fritz" Mitchell and photographed by Peter Franchella.

"'Smarty Jones' was as much about the great people in the sport as it was about horseracing," said Mitchell. "Everyone, the Servises and the Chapmans, couldn't have been nicer in cooperating with us on their assault of the Triple Crown."

Honorable mention in the National Television - Features category went to NBC Sports for "Brotherly Love," produced by Alex Piper, which aired on May 15, 2004 during its Preakness Stakes telecast; and to ESPN Classic for "Woodie's World...Secretariat," produced by Bud Lamoreaux, which aired on October 28, 2004.

Judges in the National Television - Features category were George Butler of White Mountain Films; Joel Feld of College Sports Television; Paul Lucey of Fox Sports Net - New England and Michael Sheehan of HBO Sports.

"We couldn't be more proud of winning an Eclipse Award in this city and what it means for us covering the Kentucky Derby," said Dan Foos, Executive Producer of WAVE 3 TV on behalf of the station and the more than 100 personnel who worked on the broadcast. "We have an all-star team of on air talent and production. We all grew up with horseracing, and each year we try to make a better show than the last one for our daily viewers and for the people who follow the sport on a regular basis."

Steve Langford is General Manager of WAVE 3 TV. Jeff Hoffman is station manager.

Honorable mention in this category goes to CN8 in Philadelphia for "Smarty Jones: The Inside Story," produced by Bruce Casella, which aired on June 11, 2004.

Judges for the Local Television category were Jack Coffey of Eclipse Productions; Stan Isaacs, former Newsday sports television columnist; and Rob Duboff of Hawk Partners.

"The Belmont Stakes was a wonderful story with Smarty Jones capturing the imagination of the country," said Shelby Whitfield, executive producer of the 90-minute Premiere Radio broadcast. "My team of consummate professionals did the event justice. Race caller Dave Johnson, anchor Don Chevrier, field reporter Fred Manfra and analyst Gregg McCarron share my love for Thoroughbred racing, and it shows in their work. Premiere Radio Networks took great pride in presenting comprehensive coverage of the Belmont to listeners across the country."

Honorable mention in this Audio and Multi-Media Internet category went to Michael Brunker of MSNBC for "21-Year-Old Trainer Wise Beyond Her Years," about trainer Kristen Mulhall, which aired on April 29, 2004, combining audio and narrative elements from the msnbc.com Website; and to WBAL Radio in Baltimore for its coverage of the 2004 Preakness Stakes on May 15 of last year.

Judges for the Audio and Multi Media Internet category were Jim Militello of Associated Press Radio; Brian Rublein, former news director of WHAS Radio in Louisville; and Mike Farrell, racing journalist and former UPI Radio reporter.

"With all the attention Seabiscuit garnered in 2003, I thought that the forgotten horse, Kayak, got lost in the shuffle," Christine said. "As I researched it a little more, I learned what a great horse he was. Had he beaten Seabiscuit that day, his career may have changed. He was a terrific horse with Hall of Fame credentials."

Honorable mention in the Writing - News/Commentary category went to Sean Clancy for "Emptiness No Win Could Fill" about Angel Cordero, Jr., which appeared in Daily Racing Form on August 20, 2004, and to Tim Layden, whose article "Why America Loves Smarty Jones," appeared in Sports Illustrated on May 10, 2004.

The panel of judges for the Writing - News/Commentary category was comprised of Shailagh Murray of The Wall Street Journal; Dale Austin of the Annapolis Sunday Capital and Steve Wulf of ESPN, The Magazine.

"This was easily the most fun and the most intense six weeks I've had in the sports writing business," said Jensen a resident of Media, Pa. "The people involved with Smarty Jones were real life stories, and this was a great sports story, even if he had lost the Kentucky Derby. There was a new story developing almost every day and it wasn't hard getting out of bed in the morning to cover this."

Honorable mention in the Features/Enterprise Writing category went to Pete Perkins of the Arkansas Democrat for a series of articles titled "Thrills and Spills: Jockeys Ride for the Rush…" that appeared on March 7, 2004, and to Lenny Shulman, for "Life After Racing," which explored the retirement and rehabilitation of ex-racehorses, and appeared in The Blood-Horse on February 28, 2004.

The panel of judges for the Features/Enterprise Writing category was comprised of Greg Michalson, co-publisher of Unbridled Books; Reid Cherner of USA Today, and author Jane Schwartz.