Keeneland and the Woodbine Entertainment Group were declared co-winners of this year’s Simulcast Award at the International Simulcast Conference in Clearwater Beach, Fla. The award gives both tracks the distinction of becoming five-time winners of the prestigious contest.
The crystal trophies were sponsored by Post Time Technologies.
The Simulcast Award honours excellence in the presentation of a racetrack’s live race product to its simulcast outlets. A panel of five judges selected the winners as best among the 12 North American racetracks entered for consideration.
The judges cited Keeneland’s superb, sharp video and multiple paddock cameras, as well as the streamlined Trakus presentation providing an enhanced viewing experience. Woodbine’s graphics package combined with exceptional commentators impressed the judges, who noted that “At Woodbine, it’s all about the horse.”
“We are so proud of our broadcast team and this award,” said Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason. “Their dedication to making an outstanding simulcast product comes from their understanding and appreciation for what horseplayers want. It also is a tribute to the teamwork that goes into doing a broadcast of that calibre and to the leadership of our director of Broadcast Services, G.D Hieronymus.”
“I’d like to thank the panel of judges for recognizing what is a great source of pride for Woodbine, the outstanding work of our broadcast group,” said Nick Eaves, WEG's CEO. “Congratulations to Doug Flaherty, senior director of Broadcasting, and his team for the tremendous honour.”
This year’s panel of judges consisted of: Vic Zast, author, Blood-Horse contributor and former racing executive with Delaware North Companies; Mike Mullaney, former director of Media Relations at Gulfstream Park and Eastern Edition Editor/National Features Editor of the Daily Racing Form; Joe Clancy, Editor/Publisher/Owner of ST Publishing, publisher of Steeplechase Times and the Saratoga Special; Gary West, ESPN columnist, former president of the National Turf Writers Association and former racing columnist for the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram; and Mike Dorr, who while not at his daytime job as Pricing and Value Creation Director for Asurion, Inc., is a devoted racing and handicapping enthusiast.
The 12 track entries were the actual simulcast audio and video transmission of a single race sent to wagering outlets. Each entry included the pre-race features, odds, will-pays, commentaries, the actual running of the race, the results, and post-race features. Keeneland’s winning entry originally aired April 12, 2012 and Woodbine’s on August 6, 2012.
The winning production had noteworthy competition from other vote-getting tracks such as Calder, Churchill Downs, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Gulfstream and Mohawk. Each received first, second or third-place votes on several ballots.
Previous winners of the award are Churchill Downs (1997), Turfway Park (1998), Penn National (1999), Santa Anita Park (2000-01), Hollywood Park (2002), Keeneland (2003, 2008-9, 2011), Los Alamitos (2007), Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (2005), and Woodbine Entertainment Group (2004, 2006-7, 2010).
The International Simulcast Conference is hosted by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations and Harness Tracks of America, in association with the American Greyhound Track Operators Association.
(Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America)