Good day. I hope this note finds you well and enjoying the start of the summer racing season at Saratoga, Del Mar, Colonial Downs and beyond. We’re starting the nomination process for the NTWAB Annual Awards Dinner, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 2 in Lexington. Our event planning team, led by Loren Hebel-Osborne, is finalizing a location and we’ll announce that as soon as possible.

 

In the meantime, we need suggestions for potential award winners in up to five categories. Please send along anyone you feel might be worthy of consideration. Feel free to send as many suggestions as you wish, and to include a short note on why you feel your suggestion should be considered.

The NTWAB board will meet in a few weeks to discuss the candidates and come up with a group of finalists to be voted on by the general membership. Please refer to the NTWAB website to find a list of past winners.

Mr. Fitz Award (Typifying the spirit of racing): Last year’s winner was John Shear, Santa Anita Park’s 100+-year-old paddock captain. Other recent winners include D. Wayne Lukas, Mike Smith, Rick Porter, Team American Pharoah, Art Sherman and Ramon Dominguez.

Joe Palmer Award (Meritorious service to racing): Last year’s winner was Dan Smith, Del Mar’s longtime and popular publicist. Other recent winners include the late trainer and advocate Rick Violette, Breeders’ Cup’s Jim Gluckson, Winners Foundation, AAEP and Cathy Schenck of the Keeneland Library.

Walter Haight Award (Career excellence in Turf writing): Last year’s winner was Lenny Shulman of BloodHorse. Other recent winners include Tim Wilkin, Marty McGee, Matt Hegarty, Hanck Wesch and Tim Layden.

Jim McKay Award (Career excellence in broadcasting): Last year’s winner was radio broadcaster Steve Byk. Other recent winners include Caton Bredar, Donna Barton Brothers, Randy Moss, Dave Johnson and Tom Hammond.

Bill Mooney Award (Displaying courage in the face of tremendous adversity): The Mooney Award started in 2015, presented to its namesake, and has been presented on three other occasions to Rene Douglas, Martine Bellocq and Joy Scott.

Please send suggestions to Jennifer (thesirbarton@gmail.com) by Monday, Aug. 1.

The minutes from the Derby Week meeting are attached. I’d also like to welcome our new secretary, Jennifer Kelly, to the officer team. Greg Hall (Vice President), Dick Downey (treasurer) and I were re-elected for two-year terms. Frank Angst and Nicole Russo were also re-elected to director posts and we welcome Nathan Campbell to the board of directors.

Hello all, it’s your friendly neighborhood brand new Secretary, Jennifer Kelly! Thank you so much for the opportunity to work with you guys as part of NTWAB and its slate of officers. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to reach out and let me know. Thank you to Dick and Tom for making this transition a smooth one and thank you to Jessie for her eight years of service to this organization. Have a wonderful rest of your summer! JK

Have a great week.