50th Annual Eclipse Awards Ceremony To Be Held Virtually On Jan. 28

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form (DRF) and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) today announced that the 50TH annual Eclipse Awards ceremony, honoring Thoroughbred racing's champions of 2020, will be held on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 as a virtual event, with portions hosted from historic Spendthrift Farm in Lexington.

Winners in 17 human and equine categories will be announced in a virtual ceremony streamed live on multiple outlets, including TVG and Racetrack Television Network, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. on Jan. 28.

The finalists for the 2020 Eclipse Awards will be announced on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021.

“Aligning the 50th Eclipse Awards with a historic property like Spendthrift Farm, serving as the backdrop for the broadcast, is a natural,” said Keith Chamblin, NTRA Chief Operating Officer. “Earlier this summer when it became clear that the 2020 Eclipse Awards ceremony would need to be a virtual event, we began discussions with Spendthrift about hosting portions of the event. Not only is Spendthrift one of the leading stallion farms in the world, steeped in a great tradition of champions, under the leadership of B. Wayne Hughes it has led the way in introducing innovations to the industry like Safe Bet, Share the Upside and MyRaceHorse.com.”

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. Eclipse Awards are voted on by representatives of the NTRA, Daily Racing Form, and NTWAB.

In addition to Spendthrift Farm, Eclipse Awards sponsors include Keeneland, Roberts Communications, Four Roses Bourbon, Daily Racing Form, Breeders' Cup, FanDuel, The Stronach Group, TVG, Dean Dorton, Jackson Family Wines, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, and Hallway Feeds.

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NTWAB to Donate $5,000 to Legacy Equine Academy

Officials at the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB), which consists of more than 180 professional racing journalists, announced Wednesday a pledge of $5,000 to Legacy Equine Academy, a Lexington-based program that gives racially diverse middle and high school students the opportunity to learn horsemanship through exposure to farms and the racing industry.

“The NTWAB officers and board voted unanimously in the spring and gained the support of its general membership at our meeting prior to the Kentucky Derby to make a significant, one-time donation to a group that benefits both the industry and the community,” said Tom Law, NTWAB President and Managing Editor of ST Publishing Inc.

In non-pandemic years, the NTWAB hosts an annual awards dinner the week prior to the Breeders’ Cup and makes donations to charities chosen by its award winners. The NTWAB cancelled what would have been the 61st annual awards dinner due to COVID-19, but plans to resume its annual dinner tradition in 2021.

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NTWAB Pleges $5,000 To Diversity-Focused Legacy Equine Academy

The National Turf Writers And Broadcasters pledged $5,000 to the Lexington, Ky.-based Legacy Equine Academy Inc., a unique program that allows African American and racially diverse Middle and High School students the unique opportunity to build life skills while learning horsemanship through exposure to the many opportunities on farms and in the horse racing industry.

The donation comes in light of the NTWAB's decision to cancel what would have been the 61st annual Awards Dinner held in advance of the upcoming Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course.

The NTWAB annually makes donations of a similar cumulative amounts to charities in the names of its award winners and encourages other industry organizations and stakeholders to support the Legacy Equine Academy, which has already partnered with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Dean's office, Kentucky Community and Technical College, Midway College, Fayette County Public Schools along with many other equine related enthusiasts in the corporate community.

“The NTWAB officers and board voted unanimously in the spring and gained the support of its general membership at our meeting prior to the Kentucky Derby to make a significant, one-time donation to a group that benefits both the industry and the community,” said Tom Law, NTWAB President and Managing Editor of ST Publishing Inc. “We hope this donation helps and can open doors to a segment of the community that is not only underrepresented in the racing industry but also in possession of great potential to improve the game on many levels. We could not be more proud to support an organization like the Legacy Equine Academy.”

Through its relationship with Fayette County Public Schools, the Legacy Equine Academy recruits students who are then tagged as a “Legacy Leaders” at the Middle School level. Academy members then identify the targeted students interested in the equine industry and works to ensure their candidacy for Locust Trace multi-level curriculum during their High School years, creating a pipeline toward developing future farm and racing industry professionals.

“We are so appreciative of the NTWAB for its support and advocacy of our mission,” said Ron Mack, founder and director of the Legacy Equine Academy. “We look to continue to create a pathway and a pipeline for young people into the equine industry.”

The NTWAB, which consists of more than 180 professional racing journalists, plans to resume celebrating the industry and its participants at its 61st Awards Dinner prior to the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar.

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