The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Tuesday that WAVE 3 TV in Louisville, Ky. and Premiere Radio Networks have been named recipients of Media Eclipse Awards.WAVE 3 won the Media Eclipse Award for Local Television for its pre-and post-race coverage surrounding last year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) from Churchill Downs. WAVE 3 TV devoted 9 1/2 half hours of Derby day coverage, weaving background news features and celebrity and racing personality interviews with live race coverage prior to the Derby. Among the members of the production team were producers Caroline Dickie, Amy Foos, Michael Lattin, and director Tim Ingram. This is the first Media Eclipse Award for WAVE 3 TV, the Louisville NBC affiliate. "We couldn't be more proud of winning an Eclipse Award in this city and what it means for us covering the Kentucky Derby," said Dan Foos, executive producer of WAVE 3 TV on behalf of the station and the more than 100 personnel who worked on the broadcast. "We have an all-star team of on air talent and production. We all grew up with horseracing, and each year we try to make a better show than the last one for our daily viewers and for the people who follow the sport on a regular basis." Steve Langford is General Manager of WAVE 3 TV. Jeff Hoffman is station manager.Honorable mention in this category goes to CN8 in Philadelphia for "Smarty Jones: The Inside Story," produced by Bruce Casella, which aired on June 11, 2004.Judges for the Local Television category were Jack Coffey of Eclipse Productions; Stan Isaacs, former Newsday sports television columnist; and Rob Duboff of Hawk Partners.Premiere Radio Networks won the Media Eclipse Award in the Audio and Multi-Media Internet category, for its live national coverage of the 2004 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 5 of last year. This is the third Eclipse Award for Premiere Radio, which previously received honors in 2000 and 2002."The Belmont Stakes was a wonderful story with Smarty Jones capturing the imagination of the country," said Shelby Whitfield, executive producer of the 90-minute Premiere Radio broadcast. "My team of consummate professionals did the event justice. Race caller Dave Johnson, anchor Don Chevrier, field reporter Fred Manfra and analyst Gregg McCarron share my love for Thoroughbred racing, and it shows in their work. Premiere Radio Networks took great pride in presenting comprehensive coverage of the Belmont to listeners across the country."
Honorable mention in the Audio and Multi-Media Internet category went to Michael Brunker of MSNBC for "21-Year-Old Trainer Wise Beyond Her Years," about trainer Kristen Mulhall, which aired on April 29, 2004, combining audio and narrative elements from the msnbc.com Website; and to WBAL Radio in Baltimore for its coverage of the 2004 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) on May 15 of last year. Judges for the Audio and Multi Media Internet category were Jim Militello of Associated Press Radio; Brian Rublein, former news director of WHAS Radio in Louisville; and Mike Farrell, racing journalist and former UPI Radio reporter.The 2004 Eclipse Awards will be held Jan. 24 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, Calif.
