by Steve Bailey
THOROUGHBRED TIMES staff writer Jeff Lowe was honored on Wednesday with the Bill Leggett Breeders’ Cup Writing Award, presented by Breeders’ Cup Ltd. for outstanding magazine coverage of its annual championship event.
Lowe received the award during the National Turf Writers Association’s 50th annual awards dinner at the Altadena Town and Country Club in Altadena, California.
Lowe captured the award for his story on last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), won by European invader Raven’s Pass.
A THOROUGHBRED TIMES staff writer since 2002, Lowe serves as the lead Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup reporter for the magazine, Thoroughbred Times TODAY newsletter, and website.
Daily Racing Form columnist Jay Hovdey was presented with the Joe Hirsch Breeders’ Cup Writing Award, presented for outstanding newspaper coverage of the Breeders’ Cup, while THOROUGHBRED TIMES correspondent Bob Ehalt captured the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Social Media Award for his work on the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s blog.
During the dinner, the Turf writers also honored trainer Larry Jones with the Mr. Fitz Award, given annually to a person who typifies the spirit of racing; longtime Racing Post U.S. correspondent Dan Farley with the Walter Haight Award for excellence in Turf writing; and prominent California veterinarian Jack Robbins, VMD, with the Joe Palmer Award for meritorious service to horse racing.
Jones, who was introduced by former Kentucky Governor and Airdrie Stud owner Brereton Jones, accepted his award with a thank you to all of the Turf writers in the room.
“You guys don’t realize the effect you have on people’s careers,” said Jones, who plans to retire at the end of this season, just two years after Eight Belles’ catastrophic breakdown in the 2007 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). “You guys really were the force behind my career. Now it’s time for me to get out before people learn the truth.”
Jones received the award for his courage and grace in not only handling the very public tragedy but by refusing to turn down media requests to talk about the breakdown.
Robbins, who was one of the founders of the Oak Tree Racing Association and helped to establish the American Association of Equine Practitioners in 1954, was introduced by Bo Hirsch, the son of Clement L. Hirsch.
Farley, an Indiana native who has covered the sport domestically and internationally for nearly four decades, served two terms as president of the National Turf Writers Association (1981-’86), and for the last 25 years has worked for the International Racing Bureau in Newmarket, England, and as a North American-based writer for Racing Post.
Farley, who was not in attendance, was introduced by longtime Louisville Courier-Journal horse racing writer Jennie Rees, who accepted the award on his behalf.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times