The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form
and the National Turf Writers Association announced Thursday that NBC Sports has
won the 2009 Media Eclipse Award in the National Television Feature programming
category for its documentary “The Story of Mine That Bird, 50-1,” which aired at
the beginning of its Preakness S. (G1) telecast on May 16, 2009.
This is the third National Television Feature Media Eclipse Award for NBC,
which previously won the award in 2002 and in 2005.
“The Story of Mine That Bird,” produced by Rob Hyland and Jack Felling,
recounted the incredible tale of the lightly regarded three-year-old who came
from New Mexico — and from last place — to win the Kentucky Derby (G1). The
documentary was narrated by Bob Costas.
According to Hyland, the documentary started to take shape shortly after Mine
That Bird hit the wire in the Derby.
“In conversations with Sam Flood (NBC Sports’ Coordinating Producer), we had
to tell the story of a how a 50-1 longshot came to win the Derby,” Hyland said.
“There were so many layers of the story, filled with high drama, that we needed
to let the viewers know.”
Supported by interviews with Dr. Leonard Blach and Mark Allen — the owners
of Mine That Bird (Birdstone) — trainer Chip Woolley and jockey Calvin Borel,
NBC reached back to the colt’s two-year-old season, his disappointing Derby
preps at Sunland Park, Woolley’s 1,500-mile van ride to the Derby and his
“walkover” to the Churchill Downs paddock while on crutches, and the jubilation
of the connections following the race.
“We edited around the clock for the next 12 days right up until the
Preakness, as more parts to the story were unfolding,” Hyland added.
Those unfolding events included the sale of Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Rachel
Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro) to Jess Jackson; Rachel Alexandra’s entry in the
Preakness; and Borel’s decision to get off Mine That Bird to ride the filly in
racing’s second jewel of the Triple Crown.
“Telling this story is the true essence of horse racing,” Hyland said. “It
reminds us that anything can happen on any given day. For me, personally, it’s a
true honor to win an Eclipse Award because my wife’s father is a horse trainer.”
Hyland is married to Michelle Matz, daughter of Michael Matz, who trained
2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.
Honorable mention in the National Television Feature programming category
went to HRTV for “Inside Information – Nowhere to Run” about recovery efforts at
Fair Grounds in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. The program aired on
September 6, 2009. Amy Zimmerman was executive producer.
Judges in the National Television – Features category were Howard Sudberry,
former sports director of WBBM-TV – Chicago; Peter Lasser of Lasser Productions;
and G. D. Hieronymus, Director of Broadcast Services for Keeneland Association.
The 39th Annual Eclipse Awards will be held on January 18 at the Beverly
Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.