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MJC Announces 2008 Alibi Breakfast Award Winners

Jerry Frutkoff Preakness Photo by photographer Brandon Benson

     BALTIMORE, 04-25-08--The Maryland Jockey Club today announced the winners of this year’s Preakness media awards. Honorees will be recognized and awards presented at the May 15 Alibi Breakfast in the Terrace Dining Room at Pimlico Race Course. The ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. two days prior to the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, the $1 million Preakness Stakes (Grade I).

     For the third time in the last five years Sean Clancy is the recipient of the David F. Woods Award for his spellbinding feature in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred on Curlin’s thrilling victory over Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. The Woods Award honors the best Preakness story for the previous year. Clancy, who also won honors in 2004 and 2007, joins Jay Hovdey (1992, 1997 and 1998) as the only three time winners of the award, which debuted in 1982. Judging was done by Preakness notes team members Ed Gray, Mike Kane and Matt Graves, all former award winning turf writers.

     Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred photographer Brandon Benson is the winner of the Jerry Frutkoff Preakness Photo Award, sponsored by Nikon. Benson captured the battle between Curlin and Street Sense at the top of the stretch. Judges was completed by Nikon’s Mark Suban, Maryland Jockey Club photographer Jim McCue and Adorama Camera’s Jeff Snyder.

     The prestigious Old Hilltop Award will be bestowed upon veteran Philadelphia Daily News turf writer Dick Jerardi and WJZ-TV sports producer Mike Pupo for covering Thoroughbred racing with excellence and distinction.

     The Special Award of Merit is given to someone who has made a positive impact on the racing industry. This year’s honoree is former Maryland Jockey Club Executive Vice-President Karin De Francis, whose drive helped the Preakness grow to new heights in this decade.

     Since 1996, the United States Postal Service has opened a temporary Preakness station the week of the Preakness. The Honorary Postmaster for Preakness 133 Station is Maryland’s all-time winningest jockey Mario Pino, who became the 15th rider in history to win 6,000 races at Laurel Park on November 7, 2007.

     Chris Lincoln will act as the master of ceremonies. Most Rev. Edwin O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, will give the invocation.

 12TH GRADER WINS PREAKNESS PORTRAITS YOUTH ART CONTEST

    Alexis Davis, a senior at Western High School, is the grand prize winner of the ninth annual Preakness Portraits Youth Art Contest. As the winner of “The Jewel”, Davis receives box seating for four at the Preakness, framed artwork autographed by this year’s Preakness winners, a $250 gift certificate and a presentation ceremony at the winner’s luncheon on May 6.

     Students from nine northwest Baltimore area schools, grades K through 12, were invited to create artwork showing the significance of the Preakness Stakes to Maryland history, while capturing the spirit of Thoroughbred racing. The artwork had to include Preakness related images.

     A new prize was included in this year’s competition – The Junior Jewel – the best artwork for grades K through 4. The inaugural prizewinner is 3rd grader Shadesha Harrison, from Pimlico Elementary/Middle School.

     Judging was conducted on April 18 by an esteemed panel which included Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Maryland Jockey Club Racing Secretary Georganne Hale and Nykidra Robinson, liaison for mayor’s office of neighborhoods in Baltimore city.

-MJC-