National Turf Writers to Honor 'Team Barbaro'

(from NTWA release)
The individuals associated with undefeated Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Barbaro, veterinary surgeon Dr. Dean W. Richardson and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center, and veteran racing journalist Steven Crist will be honored later this year with awards presented by the National Turf Writers Association.

"Team Barbaro" -- the group of Barbaro himself, owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson, trainer Michael Matz, assistant trainer and exercise rider Peter Brette and jockey Edgar Prado -- will receive the Mr. Fitz Award during the 47th annual NTWA Awards Dinner on Nov. 1 at The Olmstead in Louisville, Ky.

Presented annually to an individual or group for typifying the spirit of racing, the award is named for the late Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jim "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons.

Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands on May 6 at Churchill Downs by 6 1/2 lengths to stay undefeated in six career starts. He suffered a career-ending injury two weeks later in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and is currently recovering from surgery to repair his broken right hind leg and subsequent laminitis contracted in his left hind leg.

Richardson and the New Bolton Center will receive the Joe Palmer Award, named for the former New York Herald Tribune turf writer and presented annually for meritorious service to racing.

Richardson is chief of surgery at Penn Vet's Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center. He is an internationally recognized orthopedic surgeon whose research focuses on cartilage repair and has been at New Bolton Center since 1979. New Bolton Center opened its doors to the media and staged timely press conferences in the immediate hours and days after Barbaro's surgery.

Crist, chairman and publisher of Daily Racing Form, will receive the Walter Haight Award, named for the former Washington Post turf writer and columnist and presented annually for excellence in turf writing. A reporter and columnist for the New York Times from 1981 to 1990, Crist also founded the daily newspaper The Racing Times. Crist is also author and co-author of several books.