McNerney Wins NHC Charity Challenge, Brunker Finishes Second

Jimmy McNerney, track announcer at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming and Turfway Park, both located in Kentucky, won the 7th annual $5,000 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Charity Challenge presented by Four Roses Bourbon with a final mythical bankroll of $68.60. Mike Brunker, assistant city editor and horse racing columnist at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, finished second with $64.20.

McNerney spent about six hours preparing for the Charity Challenge, including while his wife drove him from Cincinnati to Ellis this morning.

“The horse in the last (Del Mar Race 9, Friar's Road, $10.20) was the one I loved the most,” he said. “I just thought the pace scenario set up perfect for him and he definitely was the one.”

A field of 58 personalities competed in the Charity Challenge. As the winner, McNerney will have $2,500 donated in his name to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) and he chose the Dragonfly Foundation of Cincinnati, supporters of patients and families impacted by pediatric cancer, to receive $2,500.

McNerney chose the Dragonfly Foundation in honor of a family friend who has used their services

“When he explained what all they did for him, it really hit me and I thought, man, if I ever get a chance I'd like to donate to them. And I went through a couple of heart surgeries when I was a child. There's a lot of struggle with families in town who don't have a support group or places to go.”

McNerney “grew up at the barn,” as he tells it. His grandparents were both trainers. His dad was a jockey. His mom and her siblings also were steeped in the sport and two of them were riders, too.

“We were always at Ellis Park and Turfway so it's kind of cool that I get to actually call the two tracks I grew up at,” McNerney said.

McNerney has worked in racing office roles at Beulah Park and River Downs before he became an announcer.

“I became friends with Luke Kruytbosch and would hang out with him in the booth here at Ellis,” he said..”After he passed I never thought I'd get a chance because he was the one helping me. But I used to do impersonations of announcers just hanging out at the bar at Hoosier Park. One day [longtime announcer] Steve Cross had car trouble and the publicity lady, Tammy Knox, came to me and said, 'You're up.' I told her I'd only called races off TV and she said, 'Well, you're all we got.'”

McNerney served as a backup for several years before landing a gig at Fair Grounds for their Summer Quarter Horse Meet. He continues to work as an agent and currently has the book of DeShawn Parker, who this year has received two of the most prestigious career honors for riders, the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award presented by Santa Anita Park and the Mike Venezia Award from the New York Racing Association.

The top five in the Charity Challenge was rounded out by longtime industry video production specialist G.D. Hieronymus ($59.60), Forbes SportsMoney business writer Matt Rybaltowski ($56), and New York Racing Association/FOX Sports racing analyst and co-founder of In the Money Media Jonathon Kinchen ($45.30).

In addition to the charitable prize, Breeders' Cup is offering a $500 credit to the winner's HorsePlayers.com account The second-place finisher will get a $250 credit with third earning a $100 credit.

Players selected one horse for a mythical $2 Win and Place bets on the same eight races used as mandatory events on Day #2 at the NHC.

The post McNerney Wins NHC Charity Challenge, Brunker Finishes Second appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Hieronymus Announces Retirement From Keeneland

G.D. Hieronymus, who has served as Keeneland’s Eclipse Award-winning Director of Broadcast Services since 2000, has announced his retirement effective Feb. 1, 2021. Hieronymus will continue to work during Keeneland’s Spring and Fall race meets and on special projects for the track and its industry and philanthropic partners.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this institution for the past 20 years,” Hieronymus said. “Keeneland’s Broadcast Services is synonymous with excellence. We have raised the bar for our industry and I am proud of this legacy. I’m grateful to my amazing crew and the countless relationships I have made throughout my career and I’m excited to continue my work with the Keeneland team while also expanding my work in the industry.”

“On behalf of the entire Keeneland family, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to G.D. for his leadership, passion and commitment to Keeneland and the Thoroughbred industry,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “While G.D. has always celebrated the rich history of our sport, he continues to pave the way for innovations that strengthen racing. We wish G.D. all the best in his retirement and look forward to his continued collaborations with Keeneland.”

Joining the Keeneland team in July 2000 as the Director of Broadcast Services after 19 years at Hammond Communications, Hieronymus celebrated many groundbreaking achievements and award-winning productions, including:

  • Development of the first high definition control room at a Thoroughbred race track in North America.
  • Seven-time recipient of the International Simulcast Award.
  • 2004 Eclipse Award recipient for Local Television Achievement.
  • Directing award-winning commercials and features for Keeneland, Thoroughbred farms and other industry partners.
  • Serving as director of photography for the Kentucky Derby Museum film “The Greatest Race,” which continues to be featured today.
  • Winner of the 2012 Charles W. Engelhard Award from the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association for outstanding service and coverage in media for the Thoroughbred industry.

In addition to his continued collaboration with Keeneland, G.D. looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Laura, and daughters, Kelly and Lindsay.

The post Hieronymus Announces Retirement From Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Keeneland’s Eclipse Award-Winning Director Of Broadcast Services G.D. Hieronymus Retires

G.D. Hieronymus, who has served as Keeneland's Eclipse Award-winning Director of Broadcast Services since 2000, has announced his retirement effective Feb. 1, 2021. Hieronymus will continue to work during Keeneland's Spring and Fall race meets and on special projects for the track and its industry and philanthropic partners.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this institution for the past 20 years,” Hieronymus said. “Keeneland's Broadcast Services is synonymous with excellence. We have raised the bar for our industry and I am proud of this legacy. I'm grateful to my amazing crew and the countless relationships I have made throughout my career and I'm excited to continue my work with the Keeneland team while also expanding my work in the industry.”

“On behalf of the entire Keeneland family, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to G.D. for his leadership, passion and commitment to Keeneland and the Thoroughbred industry,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “While G.D. has always celebrated the rich history of our sport, he continues to pave the way for innovations that strengthen racing. We wish G.D. all the best in his retirement and look forward to his continued collaborations with Keeneland.”

Hieronymus began his career in the Thoroughbred industry in Lexington in 1981 at Hammond Communications, where he served for 19 years and was instrumental in the company's growth and success. After leaving his position as Vice President of Production at Hammond, Hieronymus joined the Keeneland team in July 2000 as the Director of Broadcast Services.

During his time at Keeneland, Hieronymus celebrated many groundbreaking achievements and award-winning productions, including:

o Development of the first high definition control room at a Thoroughbred race track in North America;

o Seven-time recipient of the International Simulcast Award;

o 2004 Eclipse Award recipient for Local Television Achievement;

o Directing award-winning commercials and features for Keeneland, Thoroughbred farms and other industry partners;

o Serving as director of photography for the Kentucky Derby Museum film “The Greatest Race,” which continues to be featured today; and

o Winner of the 2012 Charles W. Engelhard Award from the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association for outstanding service and coverage in media for the Thoroughbred industry.

“While G.D. has and always will be a member of the Keeneland family, his talents have benefited the entire Thoroughbred industry,” Keeneland President-Elect Shannon Arvin said. “Keeneland is committed to continuing our support of these events and programs that mean so much to our sport.”

True to Keeneland's mission, Hieronymus has devoted his time and talents to benefit the Central Kentucky community and the broader Thoroughbred industry. He is currently a Trustee of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Under his leadership, Keeneland Broadcast Services annually provides direction and production support for such events as the NTRA Eclipse Awards, KTA-KTOB Kentucky Derby Trainers Dinner, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation's Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit at Keeneland, Thoroughbred Club of America's Honored Guest Dinner, the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony many more.

Hieronymus' community engagement includes work with the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association, where he was named Volunteer of the Year in 2013, as well as previous involvement with the Transylvania University Parent Council, LexArts, SummerFest at Woodland Park and the Kentucky Film Commission.

In addition to his continued collaboration with Keeneland, G.D. looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Laura, and daughters, Kelly and Lindsay.

The post Keeneland’s Eclipse Award-Winning Director Of Broadcast Services G.D. Hieronymus Retires appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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