The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and
the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters (NTWAB) announced Thursday that
ESPN’s news-magazine show “E:60” has won the 2012 Media Eclipse Award in the
Television-Features programming category for
“Notinrwildestdremz,” the story of a rescued and neglected Thoroughbred
filly who makes a dramatic recovery to become a racehorse. The feature segment,
which aired on October 30, was produced and directed by Heather Lombardo.
This is fifth Media Eclipse Award in the Features category won by ESPN.
“It’s a great honor to win an Eclipse Award,” Lombardo, a features manager at
ESPN since 2000, said. “To be recognized on the same night as the elite horses
and people who make a historical impact on Thoroughbred racing is a huge
thrill.”
Written and narrated by seven-time Media Eclipse Award winner Bill Nack, the
story of “Notinrwildestdremz” began on April 8, 2009, with the raid on Center
Brook Farm in upstate New York and the discovery of 177 abandoned and
malnourished horses. The local Humane Society took care of the horses and put
them up for adoption. Of those interested in adopting were Angelica Hala-Kerr
and her husband Sean Kerr of Brooklyn, New York, who adopted three of them, one
of whom was a to be named Notinrwildestdremz.
Following a long period of recovery and rehabilitation, the Kerrs saw a
feisty demeanor in Notinrwildestdremz and the possibility that she could
actually become a racehorse. They put her in the care of trainer Billy Turner,
who conditioned 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. Turner relates the long
odds facing malnourished horses to ever becoming racehorses, but “Dremz” turned
out to be the exception. She was entered on April 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack in
New York. With the Kerr’s looking on, the owners’ hearts were broken when the
filly acted up at the gate and was subsequently scratched. One month later at
Belmont Park in New York, she was entered again. This time, Notinrwildestdremz
got out of the gate and completed the race, running last to the applause of the
Kerrs, who delighted in seeing their filly actually make it to the races.
“During production, we were hoping the filly would win, to get that
‘Hollywood ending.’ But the emotion that poured out of everyone when she
came in last made for an even better story — it was real,” said Lombardo, who
also owns a rescued 15 year-year-old Thoroughbred. “It truly was a victory in
defeat.”
In addition to the production and writing of Lombardo and Nack, “Notinrwildestdremz”
was edited by Tim Horgan and Matt McCormick of Bluefoot Entertainment. Tony
Melfi, Kevin Raullerson, Bryan Brousseau and Phil Iglesias were the cameramen.
Andy Tennant is the executive producer of E:60.
Honorable mention in the Television — Features category went to HRTV for
“Inside Information,” featuring a documentary on the Eclipse Award-winning
jockey Garrett Gomez and his recovery from injury.
Judges in the Television — Features category were Jim Bannon, television
xommentator at Woodbine Entertainment Group; Peter Lasser of Lasser Productions;
and Howard Sudberry, senior director of marketing and communications at
Arlington Park, and former sports director at WBBM-TV in Chicago.
The 42nd Annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony will be held on January
19, 2013, at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
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