Bloodhorse.com was honored Saturday night for its ongoing coverage of the Barbaro saga and as best equine publication Web site when American Horse Publications presented its annual awards in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Web honors were among 13 awards, including six first-place honors, received by Blood-Horse Publications. Sixty-nine AHP members were named finalists in the 2007 AHP Annual Awards Contest for material published in 2006. Participation in this year’s contest represented 113 AHP members and more than one-thousand entries. Twenty-eight professional judges placed the classes and provided constructive critiques for all entries.
Since its inception in 1970, the American Horse Publications Annual Awards Program has recognized excellence in editorial content and graphic design. American Horse Publications is a non-profit professional association of more than 400 publications, individuals, and equine-related businesses dedicated to promoting better understanding and communication within the equine publishing industry.
“We are deeply honored by this recognition and extend our congratulations to all of the evening’s award winners,” said Stacy V. Bearse, president and CEO of Blood-Horse Publications. “The AHP Awards recognize the creativity and contributions of our entire team and their continued committed service to our loyal readers and to the equine industry.”
Blood-Horse Publications’ publications were recognized as follows:
First Place:
--Equine-Related Electronic Publication; Bloodhorse.com;
Webmaster: Gordon Lester; Online Editor: Ron Mitchell; Web Designer; Jeff Flannery.
--Online News Reporting Article; Bloodhorse.com for “The Fight to Save Barbaro”
by Dede Biles, Steve Haskin, Lenny Shulman, Ray Paulick, Ron Mitchell, and Gordon Lester.
--Feature Article; Circulation 5,000 to 25,000;
The Blood-Horse for “Coming Home” by Gary McMillen.
--Feature Article: Circulation over 25,000;
The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care for “Healing Storm Scars” by Stephanie L. Church.
--Online News Reporting Article;
TheHorse.com for “More Than a Pain in the Neck” by Tracy Norman, VMD.
--Open Color Editorial Photograph; The Blood-Horse for “Leapin' Leparoux”; Photographer: Matthew Goins.
Second Place:
--Editorial Design; Circulation 5,000 to 25,000;
The Blood-Horse for “2006 Year in Review”;
Designers: Anne Kindl and Beth McCoy; Art Director: Beth McCoy; Creative Director: Suzanne Dorman.
--Equine-Related Single Issue Specialty Publication;
Blood-Horse Publications for “The Blood-Horse Audience Profile Book”;
Editor: Robert Bolson; Designer: Beth McCoy; Promotions Manager: Ashley Runyon.
Third Place:
--Instructional Single Article; Circulation over 25,000;
The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care for “Nine Steps to a Better Feed Room” by Marcia King.
Honorable Mention:
--Service To The Reader; Circulation over 25,000;
The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care for “Anatomy and Physiology Series” by Les Sellnow.
--Editorial Design: Circulation 5,000 to 25,0000;
Keeneland Magazine for “Garden Spot”;
Designer: Suzanne Dorman; Photographer: Kirk Schlea.
--Editorial Design; (Circulation 5,000 to 25,000);
The Blood-Horse for “King of the Jungle”;
Designer: Beth McCoy; Photographer: Wally Skalij.
--General Excellence: Self-Supported Magazine; Circulation 15,000 and over; (13 entries);
The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care.
Commenting on the coverage of Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) from the time the horse was injured in the May 20 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) through September 2006, the judges wrote: “A wonderful series of articles that seamlessly ties together all the elements of a story that gripped the nation. The writers did a good job of explaining the science behind Barbaro's injury and following the twists of the story.”
In selecting bloodhorse.com as the best equine electronic publication, the judges commented: “Excellent site that focuses on target audience well, provides up to the hour information; well formatted and archietetechnical well designed site.”