Clancy to be honored again at Alibi Breakfast

For the third time in the last five years, Sean Clancy has been named the

recipient of the David F. Woods Award for the best Preakness (G1) story of the

previous year, the Maryland Jockey Club announced Friday. The Woods Award, along

with the other Preakness media awards, will be presented at the Alibi Breakfast

in the Terrace Dining Room at Pimlico Race Course on May 15, two days prior to

the $1 million Preakness S. (G1).

Clancy won for his spellbinding feature in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred

on the thrilling victory of Curlin (Smart Strike) over Kentucky Derby (G1)

winner Street Sense. Clancy, who also won honors in 2004 and 2007, joins Jay

Hovdey (1992, 1997 and 1998) as the only three-time winners of the award, which

debuted in 1982. Judging was done by Preakness notes team members Ed Gray, Mike

Kane and Matt Graves, all former award-winning turf writers.

Brandon Benson's photo captured the fierce struggle between Curlin (left) and Street Sense (Brandon Benson Photo/Maryland Jockey Club) Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred photographer Brandon Benson is the winner of the Jerry Frutkoff Preakness Photo Award, sponsored by Nikon. Benson captured the battle between Curlin and Street Sense at the top of the stretch. The judges were Nikon's Mark Suban, Maryland Jockey Club photographer Jim McCue and Adorama Camera's Jeff Snyder. The prestigious Old Hilltop Award will be bestowed upon veteran Philadelphia Daily News turf writer Dick Jerardi and WJZ-TV sports producer Mike Pupo for covering Thoroughbred racing with excellence and distinction. The Special Award of Merit is given to someone who has made a positive impact on the racing industry. This year's honoree is former Maryland Jockey Club Executive Vice-President Karin De Francis, whose drive helped the Preakness grow to new heights in this decade. Since 1996, the United States Postal Service has opened a temporary Preakness station the week of the Preakness. The Honorary Postmaster for Preakness 133 Station is Maryland's all-time winningest jockey Mario Pino, who became the 15th rider in history to win 6,000 races at Laurel Park on November 7. Chris Lincoln will act as the master of ceremonies at the Alibi Breakfast. Most Rev. Edwin O'Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, will give the invocation.

In other news regarding Preakness awards, Alexis Davis, a senior at Western

High School, is the grand prize winner of the ninth annual Preakness Portraits

Youth Art Contest. Students from nine northwest Baltimore area schools, grades K

through 12, were invited to create artwork showing the significance of the

Preakness to Maryland history, while capturing the spirit of Thoroughbred

racing. The artwork had to include Preakness-related images.

As the winner of "The Jewel," Davis receives box seating for four at the

Preakness, framed artwork autographed by this year's Preakness winners, a $250

gift certificate and a presentation ceremony at the winner's luncheon on May 6.

A new prize was included in this year's competition -- The Junior Jewel --

the best artwork for grades K through 4. The inaugural prizewinner is

third-grader Shadesha Harrison, from Pimlico Elementary/Middle School.

Judging was conducted on April 18 by an esteemed panel which included

Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Maryland Jockey Club

Racing Secretary Georganne Hale and Nykidra Robinson, liaison for the mayor's

office of neighborhoods in Baltimore city.