The National Turf Writers And Broadcasters (NTWAB) will honor recently
retired Oaklawn Park track announcer Terry Wallace, the Permanently Disabled
Jockeys Fund, and New York-based turf writer David Grening at its annual awards
dinner November 2 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Wallace, who has been called the “most recognizable voice in Arkansas,” will
receive the Mr. Fitz Award during the 52nd annual NTWAB Awards Dinner at the
Louisville Slugger Museum in downtown Louisville.
Presented annually to an individual or group for typifying the spirit of
horse racing, the Mr. Fitz Award is named for the late Racing Hall of Fame
trainer “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons. Past winners of the Mr. Fitz Award include 2010
recipient Richard Migliore, Luke Kruytbosch, Calvin Borel, Robert and Beverly
Lewis, and Joe Hirsch.
Wallace retired as track announcer at Oaklawn earlier this year after a
37-year run in the position. He called 20,191 consecutive races at the Hot
Springs, Arkansas, track until he let the streak come to an end by not calling
the fifth race on January 28. Wallace was named “Man of the Year” by the
Arkansas Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, and after calling his
20,000th consecutive race Hot Springs Mayor Mike Bush declared it “Terry Wallace
Day.”
The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), a public charity that provides
financial assistance to nearly 60 former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic
on-track injuries, will receive the Joe Palmer Award. Named for the former New
York Herald Tribune turf writer, the Palmer Award is presented annually
for meritorious service to racing. Past winners of the Palmer Award are 2010
winner Old Friends Equine, Dr. Dean Richardson and the New Bolton Center, Joe
Hirsch, and Laffit Pincay Jr.
Led by the tireless and respected Nancy LaSala, the PDJF has disbursed more
than $2 million to those jockeys, many of whom have sustained paralysis or brain
injuries. LaSala, who got the fund up and running she first volunteered for the
responsibility with no initial compensation, was named as one of racing’s
“Unsung Heroes” earlier this year by Thoroughbred Times.
Grening, the lead turf writer in New York for Daily Racing Form since
September 1998, will receive the Walter Haight Award. Named for the former
Washington Post turf writer and columnist, the Haight Award is presented
annually for career excellence in turf writing. Past winners include 2010 winner
Neil Milbert, Steve Crist, Steve Haskin, Joe Hirsch, and Jennie Rees.
Grening is the inaugural winner of the 2010 Joe Hirsch Award for best feature
story on the 2009 Belmont S. (G1). He started covering racing in July 1991 for
The Trentonian before signing on as racing writer and handicapper for the
New York Post in May 1994. In addition to providing daily coverage of
NYRA tracks for DRF, Grening covers racing’s major events, including
every Breeders’ Cup since 1991 and every Triple Crown race since 1992.