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Bob Summers, writing for the Buffalo News and Chris Wittstruck, writing for Hoof Beats, have won top honors in the 2005 John Hervey Awards competition; Sam McKee, producer of "Racing From the Meadowlands" on Fox Sports Net New York, is the winner of the 2005 Broadcasters Awards competition; and Dave Witten, for his photo which appeared in the Horseman And Fair World, has been awarded first prize in the 2005 Smallsreed Award competition.
All three are co-sponsored by the U.S. Trotting Association and the U.S. Harness Writers' Association. For their efforts, each will receive a $500 prize from the U.S. Trotting Association.
Summers, who penned a feature on specimen collectors, was selected as the newspaper winner by Rich Fisher, sports editor for a chain of daily newspapers and writer for the Newark Star Ledger and the Associated Press, who judged that division of the Hervey competition.
"It's not often one laughs out loud sitting all alone in a room reading a story, but that was the effect provided by Specimen collectors tops in the number one business," Fisher said. "The writer did a marvelous job of taking a subject that no one cares about or, for that matter, even wants to think about it, and turned it into a humorous, offbeat and informative piece of writing.
“Obviously, most of us choose not to dwell on the aspects of urine collection or the people who do it. But this piece shows they are like anyone else -- people out to do a job they understand might seem a little odd to the rest of the world."
Tom Archdeacon, writing in the Dayton Daily News, finished in second place in the competition for his story on the death of Dreamfair Kogel at the conclusion of the 2005 Little Brown Jug, and Beverly Smith, writing in the Toronto Globe and Mail, was named the third place finisher for her piece on trainer Bob McIntosh's battle with depression. They will receive cash awards of $250 and $100, respectively, for their efforts.
Wittstruck captured his first place finish in the magazine category with "What's a Rebate?....and Why We All Need to Care," a story about rebates and their impact on simulcast wagering. Witttstruck was selected the winner by Mark Moffa, the managing editor of Unique Homes magazine, who judged the magazine competition.
"This exemplary piece serves to explain rebating, why it's harmful to the industry, and what should be done to counter this trend," Moffa said. "The situation is clearly explained and the editorial is smartly structured. The writer offers concrete, thorough, and well thought-out solutions; industry experts are included to add legitimacy, insight, perspective, examples, and opinions."
Nicole Kraft, for a 20-year retrospective story on Falcon Seelster in Hoof Beats, was named the first runner-up, and will receive $250. Bill Heller, writing in the Canadian Sportsman, was the second runner-up for his story on Pepper Belle and Tourette's Syndrome, and will receive a $100 award in recognition of his efforts.
McKee was named the winner in the Broadcasters Awards for his feature on the Meadowlands' premier race, the Hambletonian. McKee was selected by Neal Baker of NBA-TV, who judged the Broadcasters Awards.
"I was impressed with this feature from the first second of video," Baker said. "It was clear with the 'opening' presented from a movie theatre setting that a lot of creativity went into the production of the feature. The piece stood out primarily because of the use of animation that dissolved into the sound bites; the dramatic music 'beds' and the selection of the Hambletonian races that were used. It was a crisp, no-nonsense look at harness racing's premier event."
Jeff Robillard, the communications and marketing manager for Horse Racing Alberta, won second place in the Broadcasters Awards for his opening vignette during four live Standardbred shows which ran on CTV Alberta, and will receive a $250 check. Heather Vitale, the producer of a feature on love and romance at the track, which ran on “Post Time” on WBOC-TV, finished third and earned a $100 award.
Witten took first place honors in the Smallsreed photo competition for his stretch drive shot of the deciding heat of the Little Brown Jug, which was published in the September 28, 2005 edition of the Horseman and Fair World. Witten was selected as the winner by Michael Lipack of the New York Daily News, who judged the Smallsreed competition.
"This photo captures the excitement of the sport," Lipack said. "(The) final turn for home with the drivers fully in action."
Alan Mattison, for his photo of the first annual bike versus horse race at Plainridge Racecourse, which ran in the November 2005 issue of Hoof Beats, was named as the first runner-up in the Smallsreed competition, and will receive $250 for his efforts. Dave Landry, for his photo of the Yankee Glide filly Wishful Me at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale in the October 20, 2005 edition of the Canadian Sportsman finished up third and earned a $100 check.
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