'The First Saturday in May' awarded Media Eclipse

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form

(DRF) and the National Turf Writers Association (NTWA) announced Friday that the

Hennegan Brothers documentary "The First Saturday in May," which chronicled the

stories of six horses and their connections on the road to the 2006 Kentucky

Derby (G1), has won the 2008 Media Eclipse Award in the National Television

Feature programming category. The 90-minute program aired on HorseRacing TV (HRTV)

on October 28, 2008.

This is the second Eclipse Award for HRTV, which won the 2006 National

Television Media Eclipse Award for the Pony Highway Production of "On the

Muscle; Portrait of a Thoroughbred Racing Stable."

John and Brad Hennegan of Huntington, New York, traveled more than 150,000

miles during a 16-month period as they documented horses preparing for the 2006

Kentucky Derby. The documentary offered a first-hand look at those who dedicate

their lives to horse racing and chase the dream of winning the Run for the

Roses. Among the trainers who told their stories were Bob Holthus (trainer of

Lawyer Ron), Frank Amonte (Achilles of Troy), Dan Hendricks (Brother Derek),

Kiaran McLaughlin (Jazil), Dale Romans (Sharp Humor) and Michael Matz (Barbaro).

The documentary also included previously unseen footage of Derby winner Barbaro.

"We are humbled and honored to win an Eclipse award and want to thank the

entire racetrack community for championing our film from the beginning," Brad

Hennegan said. "We would especially like to thank Churchill Downs, The Jockey

Club, the NTRA and HRTV for their incredible understanding and support

throughout this process."

"'The First Saturday in May' is emblematic of the high standard of

programming which HRTV strives to bring to our viewers," said Amy Zimmerman,

executive producer of HRTV. "We were proud to debut their documentary on

television and congratulate John and Brad on their extraordinary achievement."

Released theatrically in more than 25 U.S. markets in April 2008, a portion

of proceeds from "The First Saturday in May" were donated to the Grayson-Jockey

Club Research Foundation.

Judges in the National Television - Features category were Richard Valeriani,

media consultant and former NBC News White House correspondent; Stan Isaacs,

former Newsday sports television columnist; and G.D. Hieronymus, director

of broadcast services for Keeneland Association.

Honorable mention in the National Television Feature programming category

went to TVG for "The Legend of Lava Man," which aired on December 26, 2007. The

documentary was produced by Scott Eberly.

The 2008 Eclipse Awards ceremony will be held January 26 at the Fontainebleau

Miami Beach in Miami Beach, Florida. For hotel accommodations and Eclipse Awards

dinner reservations, contact Michele Ravencraft at 1-800-792-6872, or e-mail

mravencraft@ntra.com.