NBC Sports Wins National TV Eclipse Award

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Edited press release

NBC Sports has won the media Eclipse Award for national television--live racing for its production of the 2006 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

The Preakness telecast, produced by Sam Flood, aired May 20 from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. NBC’s telecast focused on the dramatic events surrounding the race and the injury to Barbaro. NBC provided replays of the start of the race, and followed up with interviews of track veterinarians and racing officials.

NBC also deployed its reporters to the backstretch until Barbaro departed for the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania.

“We are extremely proud to continue our long history and tradition of covering Thoroughbred racing by winning the Eclipse Award,” said Flood, who produced his first Preakness telecast. “We had the dual responsibility of documenting the race, and then quickly picking up the main story of the health and safety of Barbaro. Tom Hammond displayed tremendous leadership in anchoring the broadcast during that crisis period.”

Judges for the category were Stan Isaacs, former Newsday television sports columnist; Bud Lamoreaux, former CBS Sports producer; and Pete Macheska, director at Fox Sports. The decision of the judges was unanimous.

The Eclipse Awards are presented by the NTRA, National Turf Writers Association, and Daily Racing Form. The 36th Eclipse Awards ceremony will be held Jan. 22 at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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