The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form
and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) announced Monday that
The Blood-Horse has won the 2014 Media Eclipse Award in the
Audio/Multi-Media Internet category for “Waiting, and Waiting, for Crowning
Glory: A generation repeatedly denied a Triple Crown winner looks to California
Chrome,” an in depth examination of the difficulties of winning Thoroughbred
racing’s greatest challenge, which appeared on bloodhorse.com on May 28, 2014.
Written by Frank Angst, “Waiting, and Waiting, for Crowning Glory” offered a
comprehensive multi-media presentation on the various components of the “near
misses” of the Triple Crown, which has not been won since Affirmed captured the
Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in 1978. The Blood-Horse
examined the improbable odds of a horse sweeping all three Grade 1 races at
distances of greater than 1 1/8 miles; related the stories of the most recent
horses who won the first two Jewels of the Triple Crown; and recalled the
“spoilers,” the horses that won the Belmont Stakes and denied the Derby and
Preakness winners their ultimate goal.
The last section of the piece undertook explanations for the reasons behind
the Triple Crown not being achieved in 36 years, exploring the changes in
breeding, training, field sizes of the Triple Crown races, and fewer starts by
horses than previous generations, among other variables. Recollection of the
excitement and disappointment of those who experienced the “near-misses” also
come to light, from owners Mike Pegram, Jack Knowlton to trainers Barclay Tagg,
Rick Dutrow and John Servis, who discuss the rigors of the Triple Crown
campaign.
“Crowning Glory” was supported by video interviews with Hall of Fame Jockey
Chis McCarron, and Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, recalling their experiences
in ending Triple Crown bids; and from Michael Hernon of Gainesway Farm, which
stands 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone, and Bill Farish from Lane’s End,
home of 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid, two “spoilers” who went on to
promising careers as graded stakes producing sires.
“It’s a tremendous honor and I can’t emphasize enough how much of a team
effort it was to win this award,” said Angst, a staff writer at The
Blood-Horse since 2013 who previously wrote for the Thoroughbred Times
for 12 years. “After doing this story, when a horse finally wins the Triple
Crown, I will be more impressed and appreciative of the enormous accomplishment
it is to sweep all three races.”
“The most satisfying part of this project’s success was seeing the decision
to innovate and step outside our comfort zones pay off,” said Claire Novak,
Online Features Editor for The Blood-Horse. “Our team put in their best
effort to combine Frank’s detailed reporting with cutting-edge design and video
elements we’d previously not been able to include in online features. In the
end, the piece reflected the kind of quality and forward-thinking attitude that
publishers must maintain in order to remain relevant in the modern media world.
We look forward to continuing to push our limits with online features and
presentations, and everyone who worked on this story is honored to see it
receive this award.”
In addition to Angst and Novak, the piece was designed by Kim Reeves; Anne
Eberhardt was visual director; Scott Tracy was multi-media producer; Gary Bodgon
and Charlie McCarthy were the videographers and Kevin Thompson was visual assets
coordinator. The text was edited by Tom Hall, Eric Mitchell and Ian Tapp.
Honorable mention in the Audio and Multi-Media Internet category went to
Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN) for its live broadcast of the 140th Kentucky
Derby on May 3.
Judges in this category were John Lee, multi-media producer, Brian Nadeau of
Horseplayer Now and Jessica Chapel of breederscup.com.
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