<I>The Blood-Horse</I>'s Steve Haskin Honored with Fourth Red Smith Award

Steve Haskin, senior correspondent for The Blood-Horse was honored with his fourth Red Smith Award writing award Friday, it was announced by Churchill Downs. The winners of the 2005 writing contest included two other repeat winners and one newcomer. The 23rd annual competition recognizes the best in print media coverage of the 131st Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

Haskin earned his fourth Red Smith Award in seven years in the Monday Wrap-Up category, and his fifth title overall, for The Blood-Horse story entitled "Giacomojo." The article examined the Derby disappointments for jockey Mike Smith, and the lack of attention and respect given to the California contenders, especially Giacomo, a mere winner of one of seven career starts. Haskin, who earned his first Red Smith in the Advance division as a reporter for Daily Racing Form in 1996, broke the record for wins in the Monday Wrap-Up division. His wins in that division came in 1999, 2000, and 2004.

Greg Hall of the (Louisville) Courier-Journal earned his first Red Smith award as his entry was judged best in the Feature division. Hall was joined by repeat winners that included his Courier-Journal colleague Jennie Rees, who was honored for her Sunday Wrap-up; Dick Jerardi of the Philadelphia Daily News in the Advance division; and Haskin.

Each of the winners will receive an engraved silver equine-themed serving tray to be presented during the annual National Turf Writers Association Awards Dinner, which is scheduled for Oct. 26 at Jericho Terrace in Mineola, N.Y.

The awards are named in honor of Walter W. "Red" Smith, the Pulitzer Prize-winning sportswriter and columnist who was best known for his work with the New York Herald Tribune and New York Times. Smith died in 1982 and Churchill Downs established the Red Smith Writing Contest the following year.