BALTIMORE, 04-16-12—Pimlico Race Course today announced the winners of this year’s Preakness media awards. Honorees will be recognized and awards presented at the May 17 Alibi Breakfast in the Terrace Dining Room. 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 (G1).

The Special Award of Merit is given to someone who has made a positive impact on the racing industry. The 2012 winner is Team Rapid Redux. The winner of 22 consecutive races, the son of Pleasantly Perfect was a perfect 19-for-19 season in 2011 for owner Robert Cole and trainer David Wells. Cole, a Baltimore County native, claimed the gelding at Penn National for $6,250 on October 13, 2010 and placed him into the capable hands of Wells. In his next 24 races, Rapid Redux won 23 times with earnings of $266,074. The win-streak began December 2, 2010 at Penn National. During the streak, he won races at seven different tracks at distances from five-furlongs to 1-1/8 miles, using seven riders.

Philadelphia Inquirer writer Bob Ford is the recipient of the David F. Woods Award with his column on the relationship between Fair Hill Training Center-based trainers Graham Motion and Michael Matz.The Woods Award honors the best story for the previous year. Judging was done by Preakness notes team members Ed Gray, Mike Kane and Matt Graves, all award winning turf writers.

Blood Horse photographer Chad Harmon is the winner of the Jerry Frutkoff Preakness Photo Award, sponsored by Nikon. Harmoncaptured Shackleford and Animal Kingdom nearing the finish line and casting huge shadows across the Pimlico homestretch as they raced to decide the outcome of Preakness 136. Judging was completed by Nikon’s Brien Aho and Maryland Jockey Club photographers Jim McCue and Jerry Dzierwinski.

The prestigious Old Hilltop Award will be bestowed upon Sports Illustrated senior writer Tim Layden and the Daily Racing Form’s David Grening for covering Thoroughbred racing with excellence and distinction.

Baltimore radio personalities Scott Garceau and Keith Mills, former broadcast partners at WMAR-TV from 1987-2006, will host the event for the fourth consecutive year.

Most Rev. William Lori, Archbishop-designate for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, will provide the invocation on his first full day on the job. Lori will be installed as Baltimore’s 16th archbishop on May 16.
 

THE ULTIMATE INFIELDFEST EXPERIENCE GIVES FACEBOOK FANS A CHANCE AT MEET-AND-GREETS WITH MAROON 5 AND WIZ KHALIFA

The Maryland Jockey Club today announced the opportunity for fans to win The Ultimate InfieldFest Experience by entering a sweepstakes on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InfieldFest.

One winner of The Ultimate InfieldFest Experience will receive four (4) MUG club tickets and backstage passes for a meet-and-greet with Preakness InfieldFest headliners Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa. The 137^th running of the Preakness®Stakes is Saturday, May 19at Pimlico Race Course.

Entering to win is easy: just visit www.facebook.com/InfieldFest and click on the main page thumbnail image that says “GET BACKSTAGE.” Users will then be prompted to fill out their name and contact information in order for the Maryland Jockey Club to notify the winner.

The contest runs through Friday, May 5 with the winner announced Monday, May 7. The winner must be 21 years or older to receive MUG Club tickets. In the event winner is not 21 years or older, general admission InfieldFest tickets will be substituted.