The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and
the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) Thursday announced that NBC
Sports has won the Media Eclipse Award for Television — Live Racing Programming
for its broadcast of the 2012 Kentucky Derby. The 2 1/2-hour live telecast from
Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, aired on May 5, culminating with the
victory of I’ll Have Another in the 138th “Run for the Roses.”
This is the ninth Media Eclipse Award in the Live Television category for
NBC.
“The Kentucky Derby is one of America’s greatest sporting events,” said Rob
Hyland, coordinating producer of NBC Sports and the producer of the telecast.
“It is a day that uniquely combines atmosphere and competition. From the 20
horses and their connections, to Millionaires Row and the raucous infield, Derby
Day has something for everyone and it is our job to cover the many layers of
this great event. Every Derby has a number of captivating storylines and this
year was no exception. Our production team did an excellent job telling the
stories of the 138th Kentucky Derby and we are very proud to win this
prestigious award.”
The 42nd Annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony will be held on January
19, 2013, at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage delivered an array of race reporting and
insightful background stories on many of the 20 starters in the race, and
included features on three-time Derby winning rider Calvin Borel, and Dr.
Kendall Hansen, flamboyant owner of one of the pre-race favorites, Hansen. NBC
also incorporated celebrity interviews with stars of movies and television from
a vantage point overlooking than more 160,000 in attendance.
NBC deployed a total of 48 cameras throughout the Churchill Downs for its
telecast, including 18 hard cameras and 14 handhelds. The network also
introduced a POV robotic inside the starting-gate stall of eventual runner-up
Bodemeister. NBC also utilized its overhead camera in replays to isolate the
dramatic surge of I’ll Have Another overtaking Bodemeister in the stretch. The
broadcast was punctuated by Brothers’ interview on horseback with the excited
reaction of winning jockey Mario Gutierrez and the disappointment of Bob Baffert,
trainer of Bodemeister.
In addition to Hyland, as producer, the Derby telecast was directed by Drew
Esocoff. Tom Hammond and Bob Costas hosted the program and were joined by
analysts Gary Stevens, Randy Moss, Laffit Pincay III and Jerry Bailey. Jay
Privman, Kenny Rice and Donna Brothers were the reporters. Bob Neumeier and Mike
Battaglia provided handicapping information and analysis, and Larry Collmus
called the race. Catt Sadler of E! News and Jeannie Mai of Style Network joined
the broadcast as celebrity and fashion correspondents.
Judges for the National Television — Live Racing category were: Chris
Svendsen of CBS Sports; Stan Isaacs, former Newsday sports television
columnist and Thoroughbred racing director and producer Doug Wren of Wren
Productions. Honorable mention in the National Television — Live Programming
category also went to NBC Sports for its live broadcast of the Breeders’ Cup
Classic from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, which aired on November 3.
The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and
foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18
starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races,
including three Epsom Derbies. The Eclipse Awards are bestowed upon horses and
individuals whose outstanding achievements in North America have earned them the
title of champion in their respective categories. Those awards are voted by NTRA, Daily
Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB). Eclipse
Awards also are given to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage
of Thoroughbred racing.
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