Standardbred Canada is pleased to announce the finalists for the inaugural Media Excellence Awards
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The finalists in the Outstanding Written Work Category are Dave Briggs, editor of The Canadian Sportsman and Tony Saxon, a sports writer from The Guelph Mercury.
Horse Racing Alberta and Woodbine Entertainment Group are the finalists in the Outstanding Video, Film or Broadcast category.
Dave Briggs’ feature story, 'The Beach Boys' recounts the story on Brent MacGrath and Paul MacDonell’s chance meeting and the growing legend of Somebeachsomewhere. This story was published in the July 3, 2008 issue of The Canadian Sportsman and was one of a series of features that focused on Somebeachsomewhere and his connections in that issue.
Tony Saxon’s submission, 'The Race Is On' tells the tale of how a trainer and small town owners find a big winner in Somebeachsomewhere. This article was published in The Guelph Mercury newspaper on June 14, 2008.
Horse Racing Alberta & Whiteiron Productions submitted a feature on Warren Grant broadcasted during the live one-hour broadcast of the Northlands Filly Pace on CTV, Alberta and Saskatchewan, on May 24, 2008. This feature tells the story of the amazing battle by Warren Grant following a horrific racing accident and his road to recovery. Executive producers of the show were Jeff Robillard, Horse Racing Alberta and Mike Little, Whiteiron Productions.
Woodbine Entertainment Group’s 2008 Canadian Pacing Derby broadcast was a one-hour live presentation covering Canada’s oldest harness stakes event that aired on The Score on August 16, 2008. The show featured live coverage of the race, interviews with industry players and features on some of the top horses in the Derby. Greg Lanzo produced this broadcast.
The Media Excellence Awards program is aimed at honouring those who have, through one piece of exceptional work, covered Canadian harness racing in a manner that is extraordinary and of broad national appeal. Standardbred Canada received several submissions for each category.
These four finalists were the top point earners scored by a panel of independent, esteemed judges. Standardbred Canada would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to all of the judges. Neil A. Campbell, Executive Director of The Globe and Mail, Andrew Cohen, CBS News Chief Legal Analyst, Julie Cull, Communications and Media Relations coordinator for Equine Canada & Charlie Leerhsen, author of Crazy Good and former executive editor of Sports Illustrated judged the works submitted for the Outstanding Written Work Category.
Brad Diamond, producer and broadcaster for Bradford Productions and former producer for The World of Horse Racing, Evan Kosiner, television producer and founder of The Television Development Company, and Alan Kirschenbaum, Hollywood producer and director for various sit-coms including Yes Dear and Everybody Loves Raymond scored the submissions for the Outstanding Video, Film and Broadcast category.
The winners will be announced and presented with their unique trophies at the annual O’Brien Awards gala on Saturday, January 31 at the Delta Meadowvale Hotel.
congratulations to Dave
congratulations to Dave Briggs and Tony Saxon. We have enjoyed their stories throughout the 2008 racing season and are indebted to their professional and entertaining coverage of Beach's achievements.
R. Macgrath