Eclipse Awards are given to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing.
William Nack, Jay Hovdey, and Frank Anderson will collect media Eclipse awards from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association during the Jan. 26 dinner program in Hollywood, Fla.Nack won the award for writing in the Feature/Enterprise category for his article, "Horse Racing: Why Everybody Hates Bob Baffert," which appeared in the May 2003 issue of GQ (Gentlemen's Quarterly). Nack's article explores the rise of one of the world's most successful and outspoken Thoroughbred trainers. Honorable mention went to Barbara Bayer for "Roses to Ruin," which appeared in The Blood-Horse on July 26, 2003.Jay Hovdey, executive columnist of Daily Racing Form, won for Writing in the News/Commentary category for his three-part series, "The Loss of Bill Shoemaker: Remembering Laughter Amid Tears"; "Lifetime's Worth of Great Rides"; and "Life and Loss Under Red Skies," that appeared in Daily Racing Form's Oct. 15, 17 and 24 issues respectively, in 2003. The series reflects upon the life of legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker who died on Oct. 12, 2003 at age 72.Honorable mention in the Writing –News/Commentary category went to Nack for "Horse Handler" on trainer Richard Mandella, which appeared in the Nov. 1, 2003 edition of The Blood-Horse. Frank Anderson, a photographer for the Lexington Herald-Leader, won the Media Eclipse Award for Photography. Anderson's photo of a loose horse hurdling fallen jockey Patty Cooksey as track personnel attended to her following an April 12 spill at Keeneland, appeared in the April 19, 2003, issue of Thoroughbred Times.Honorable mentions in the Photography category went to Jeremy Lyverse of kentuckyderby.com for Funny Cide's Kentucky Derby win and Jeff Snyder of The Blood-Horse for Funny Cide's powerful move on the far turn at the Preakness Stakes.