HRTV garners Media Eclipse Award

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - A documentary about 1984 Kentucky Derby winner Swale has given HRTV its third Media Eclipse Award for Television Feature programming. The Eclipse Awards are voted on by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters.

The documentary aired on HRTV on Sunday, February 28. Amy J. Zimmerman wrote and produced the program, which tells the story about Swale. The three-year- old colt, owned by Claiborne Farm, won the Run for the Roses and Belmont Stakes in 1984, then suddenly died eight days following the Belmont victory.

"I'm absolutely thrilled for everyone at HRTV involved with this project," said Zimmerman, who is also Executive Producer of HRTV. "I have wanted to tell this story for a long time. The year 1984 is remembered for the first Breeders' Cup and the victories by John Henry, but for five weeks that year there was nothing greater than Swale. We are grateful to Seth and Del Hancock for letting us tell his story."

HRTV won the Media Eclipse Feature Award in 2006 for "On the Muscle" from Pony Highway Productions and in 2008 for the Hennegan Brothers' documentary, "The First Saturday in May."

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