American Pharoah connections will receive Mr. Fitz Award from NTWAB

The connections of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah will be presented with the Mr. Fitz Award from the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters this year at the organization’s annual award dinner, the NTWAB announced Wednesday.

The Mr. Fitz Award, named after trainer “Sunny” Jim Fitzsimmons, is given annually by the NTWAB to those “typifying the spirit of racing.” American Pharoah’s owner, Ahmed Zayat, his trainer, Bob Baffert, and his rider, Victor Espinoza, will each be acknowledged.

The NTWAB also named Tom Hammond of NBC the winner of its Jim McKay Award for broadcasting. Hammond, a winner of two Eclipse Awards, anchors many of NBC’s racing broadcasts.

Tim Layden, a writer for Sports Illustrated, was named the winner of the Walter Haight Award for career excellence. Layden, who worked as a turf writer for several papers before moving to Sports Illustrated in 2001, was cited for his “elegant writing style that is rich in detail.”

Cathy Schenk, the head librarian at the Keeneland Library, will receive the Joe Palmer Award for “long and meritorious service to racing.” Schenk, who has worked at the library since 1978, “has been an enormous help to journalists,” the NTWAB said.

Finally, former Walter Haight winner Bill Mooney will receive the inaugural Bill Mooney Award for “displaying courage in the face of tremendous adversity.” Mooney has been diagnosed with cancer.

The awards will be presented Oct. 28 at the Griffin Gate Marriott in Lexington, Ky., during a formal dinner. The event comes two days before the first day of the Breeders’ Cup championships, scheduled for Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland in Lexington.