ESPN wins second straight Media Eclipse Award

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - For the second straight year ESPN has been awarded the Media Eclipse Award for Television - Live Racing Programming. The network was recognized for its 2010 broadcast of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Last year ESPN won the prize for its telecast of the Belmont Stakes on ABC.

"We are extremely proud to win this award for the second consecutive year," said Mike McQuade, who is vice president of Event Production for ESPN. "Our team does horse racing as well as anyone in the industry. We are blessed with a crew that is dedicated to putting together a terrific production of the races, but also bringing viewers closer to the action as never before."

David Ceisler produced the 2010 Breeders' Cup World Championships telecast from Churchill Downs and Doug Holmes was the director. The program was hosted by Joe Tessitore.

Previously, The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced that Michael Clevenger of Louisville, KY, won the 2010 Media Eclipse Award for Photography.

Clevenger, who also won in 2002, was honored for his picture of the dramatic finish between Blame and Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 6. The photo appeared on the front page of the Louisville Courier-Journal the following day.

The 40th Annual Eclipse Awards will be held on Monday, January 17, 2011 in Miami Beach, FL.