The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form
(DRF) and the National Turf Writers Association (NTWA) announced Friday that the
Hennegan Brothers documentary “The First Saturday in May,” which chronicled the
stories of six horses and their connections on the road to the 2006 Kentucky
Derby (G1), has won the 2008 Media Eclipse Award in the National Television
Feature programming category. The 90-minute program aired on HorseRacing TV (HRTV)
on October 28, 2008.
This is the second Eclipse Award for HRTV, which won the 2006 National
Television Media Eclipse Award for the Pony Highway Production of “On the
Muscle; Portrait of a Thoroughbred Racing Stable.”
John and Brad Hennegan of Huntington, New York, traveled more than 150,000
miles during a 16-month period as they documented horses preparing for the 2006
Kentucky Derby. The documentary offered a first-hand look at those who dedicate
their lives to horse racing and chase the dream of winning the Run for the
Roses. Among the trainers who told their stories were Bob Holthus (trainer of
Lawyer Ron), Frank Amonte (Achilles of Troy), Dan Hendricks (Brother Derek),
Kiaran McLaughlin (Jazil), Dale Romans (Sharp Humor) and Michael Matz (Barbaro).
The documentary also included previously unseen footage of Derby winner Barbaro.
“We are humbled and honored to win an Eclipse award and want to thank the
entire racetrack community for championing our film from the beginning,” Brad
Hennegan said. “We would especially like to thank Churchill Downs, The Jockey
Club, the NTRA and HRTV for their incredible understanding and support
throughout this process.”
“‘The First Saturday in May’ is emblematic of the high standard of
programming which HRTV strives to bring to our viewers,” said Amy Zimmerman,
executive producer of HRTV. “We were proud to debut their documentary on
television and congratulate John and Brad on their extraordinary achievement.”
Released theatrically in more than 25 U.S. markets in April 2008, a portion
of proceeds from “The First Saturday in May” were donated to the Grayson-Jockey
Club Research Foundation.
Judges in the National Television – Features category were Richard Valeriani,
media consultant and former NBC News White House correspondent; Stan Isaacs,
former Newsday sports television columnist; and G.D. Hieronymus, director
of broadcast services for Keeneland Association.
Honorable mention in the National Television Feature programming category
went to TVG for “The Legend of Lava Man,” which aired on December 26, 2007. The
documentary was produced by Scott Eberly.
The 2008 Eclipse Awards ceremony will be held January 26 at the Fontainebleau
Miami Beach in Miami Beach, Florida. For hotel accommodations and Eclipse Awards
dinner reservations, contact Michele Ravencraft at 1-800-792-6872, or e-mail
mravencraft@ntra.com.