Richardson, Prado to be Honored at Alibi Breakfast

(from Maryland Jockey Club press release)
Dr. Dean Richardson and jockey Edgar Prado will be presented with the Special Award of Merit as part of this year's Preakness media awards during the annual Alibi Breakfast  in the terrace dining room at Pimlico Race Course May 17, the Maryland Jockey Club announced Friday.

The ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. two days prior to the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.

The Special Award of Merit is given to someone who has made a positive impact on the racing industry. This year’s honorees are Richardson, whose dedication and perseverance in the hard-fought effort to save Barbaro’s life was truly remarkable, and Prado, the former Maryland riding star who earned his first Eclipse Award as the nation’s top jockey a year ago.

Sean Clancy is the recipient of the David F. Woods Award for his riveting feature in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred on the roller coaster ride in the first two legs of the 2006 Triple Crown for Team Barbaro. The Woods Award honors the best Preakness story for the previous year. It is the second victory in the past four years for Clancy.

Maryland Jockey Club photographer Jim McCue is the winner of the Jerry Frutkoff Preakness Photo Award, sponsored by Nikon. McCue, a longtime business partner of Frutkoff, captured Barbaro’s final gallop at Pimlico on Preakness morning.

The prestigious Old Hilltop Award will be bestowed upon two veteran horse racing writers: Jerry Izenberg, the legendary columnist at the Newark Star-Ledger, and Don Clippinger, editorial director at the Thoroughbred Times.

Former broadcaster Charlsie Cantey will be the honorary postmaster.

Chris Lincoln will act as the master of ceremonies. Cardinal William H. Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore, will give the invocation.