NBC Sports wins Media Eclipse Award for Preakness telecast

NBC Sports has won the Media Eclipse Award for National Television - Live

Racing, for its coverage of the Preakness S. (G1).

The Preakness telecast, produced by Sam Flood, aired on May 20 from Pimlico

Race Course in Baltimore. NBC's telecast focused on the dramatic events

surrounding the race and the injury to Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro

(Dynaformer). NBC analyzed the start of the 1 3/16-mile race, and followed up

with interviews of track veterinarians and racing officials. The network also

deployed reporters to the backstretch until Barbaro departed for the George D.

Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania's New

Bolton Center.

"We are extremely proud to continue our long history and tradition of

covering Thoroughbred racing by winning the Eclipse Award," said Flood, who was

producing his first Preakness telecast. "We had the dual responsibility of

documenting the race, and then quickly picking up the main story of the health

and safety of Barbaro. Tom Hammond displayed tremendous leadership in anchoring

the broadcast during that crisis period."

Judges for the National Television - Live racing category were: Stan Isaacs,

former Newsday television sports columnist; Bud Lamoreaux, former CBS Sports

producer; and Pete Macheska, director, Fox Sports. The decision of the judges

was unanimous.