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HBO Sports wins Eclipse Award HBO Sports has won the 2007 Media Eclipse Award in the National Television Feature programming category for its documentary "Barbaro," which aired on June 6, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Thursday. The one-hour program documented the life of 2006 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro, who captured the public's imagination through his significant accomplishments on the racetrack and his tremendous courage and desire to live following his injury in the Preakness S. (G1) that ultimately led to his death last January. "HBO Sports is honored to accept this very prestigious award," said Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports. "We want to thank Gretchen and Roy Jackson (Barbaro's owners) for their generous support on the project, and of course Barbaro for reminding the world of its love of animals." In chronicling "Barbaro," HBO used archival footage of the Thoroughbred as a weanling and his triumphant early races, and supported it with revealing interviews with the Jacksons throughout the film. The program was broadened with a history of life changing episodes from trainer Michael Matz, assistant Peter Brette, jockey Edgar Prado, and Dr. Dean Richardson, the chief of surgery at the John D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. HBO also provided a detailed examination of events surrounding Barbaro's injury during the Preakness, the role of the medical staff at Pimlico Race Course and the attendants who helped Barbaro into the horse ambulance after the race. The main focus of the documentary, though, was on Barbaro's owners. "The film came together after we met the Jacksons," said Margaret Grossi, who produced the documentary. "We recognized that they were making a genuine effort to save the horse. They never veered in their conviction and never relinquished hope. They handled all of the ups and downs with a lot of class." Greenburg and Rick Bernstein were executive producers of "Barbaro." The documentary was written by Frank Deford. Mary Carillo, who wrote the original treatment, was story editor. Liev Schreiber was the narrator. Original music was scored by Brian Keane. Barbaro documentaries also accounted for the two honorable mentions in the National Television Features programming category. One went to HorseRacing TV (HRTV) for "Barbaro: A Race to Save His Life," which aired on June 3. Amy Zimmerman was executive producer. Honorable mention also went to NBC Sports for "Barbaro: A Nation's Horse," which aired on May 5. Rob Hyland was the producer. Judges in the National Television -- Features category were Rob Duboff of Hawk Partners Productions; Joel Feld, of New England Sports Network; and Stan Isaacs, former Newsday sports television columnist. The 2007 Eclipse Awards ceremony will be held on January 21 at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
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