Thoroughbred Times earned seven awards, including an honorable mention for General Excellence for a tabloid or newspaper, during the American Horse Publications’ 34th annual awards program on June 21 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The weekly horse racing industry publication received three second-place awards and four honorable mentions for its work in 2007, which placed it among the leading award-winners of the evening.

In the “General Excellence” category, Thoroughbred Times was praised by the AHP judges for its “dramatic covers” and “strong design,” as well as having “Enough detail for industry insiders [and] enough flash for the racing fan.” The publication also received positive comments from the judges for “[shaking] things up with a fiction contest.”

Individuals receiving honors include Editorial Director Don Clippinger, whose December 15 editorial “Churchill Outsources its Integrity” earned a second-place award. Clippinger’s “well-researched and documented argument against outsourcing security workers” at Churchill Downs impressed the judges by providing “solid historic background to drive home his points.”

“This appeared to be an issue Churchill Downs really didn’t want publicized,” the judges commented, “but the author in no uncertain terms took the track to task for firing most of the security guards who had the closest relationship to the stables and stable workers they oversaw.”

Also receiving second-place honors was Graphic Designer Tami Zigo whose work on “Kentucky Derby 133” in the May 12 issue earned recognition in the “Event Coverage Design” category. Zigo’s “well thought out piece” was commended for its “excellent usage of photos” and “clean design.”

Thoroughbred Times claimed two awards in the “Event Coverage Editorial Content” category for publications with circulations under 20,000.

News Editor Ed DeRosa’s May 26 story “Thriller on Old Hilltop” earned second-place recognition from the AHP. DeRosa’s “solid, well-written story” was praised for its lead and pacing for a longer article.

President and Editor Mark Simon earned an Honorable Mention in the same category for his November 3 piece “A Brilliant Blessing.”

“Remembering Barbaro,” a collaborative effort from Mike Curry, Frank Angst, Michael Burns, Steve Bailey, Jeff Lowe, Mary Simon, Denise Steffanus and Dick Jerardi on February 10 also earned an Honorable Mention in the “News Reporting: Related Feature Story” category.

Correspondent Cynthia McFarland also took home an Honorable Mention in the in the “Instructional Single Article” category for publications with circulations of 10,000 to 20,000 for her January 13 piece “Blackout!”

Thoroughbred Times's sister publication, Horse Illustrated, also earned AHP awards. Writer Kara Stewart's story, "In Case of Emergency," received first-place in the service to the reader category for AHP affiliate members. Stewart also earned an honorable mention in the feature article category for her story "It's Never Too Late."

Writer Annie Eldridge's story, "Great Clips," was third in the horse care, class eight and nine category, while Horse Illustrated Editor Elizabeth Moyer's article, "Free Rein: Letting Go," earned honorable mention in the personal column category.

Thoroughbred Times and Horse Illustrated are owned by parent company Bowtie Inc.