National Turf Writers Association
Encyclopedia
The National Turf Writers Association (NTWA) is an American
association of journalist
s, columnist
s and other writer
s involved with reporting on the horse racing
industry. The organization was founded by prominent sports writer Joe Hirsch
who served as its first president.
The Association currently has approximately 225 members and meets twice a year at the Kentucky Derby
and the Breeders' Cup
. In cooperation with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association
and the Daily Racing Form
, the National Turf Writers Association selects the winners of the annual Eclipse Award
s As well, it presents other awards:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
association of journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s, columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
s and other writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
s involved with reporting on the horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
industry. The organization was founded by prominent sports writer Joe Hirsch
Joe Hirsch
Joe Hirsch was an American horse racing columnist and the founding president of the National Turf Writers Association.-Biography:...
who served as its first president.
The Association currently has approximately 225 members and meets twice a year at the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
and the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
. In cooperation with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association
National Thoroughbred Racing Association
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic...
and the Daily Racing Form
Daily Racing Form
The Daily Racing Form is a tabloid newspaper founded in 1894 in Chicago, Illinois by Frank Brunell. The paper publishes the past performances of race horses as a statistical service for bettors on horse racing in the United States....
, the National Turf Writers Association selects the winners of the annual Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
s As well, it presents other awards:
- Joe Palmer Award for meritorious service to racing - named for the late racing editor at the New York Herald TribuneNew York Herald TribuneThe New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
- Mr. Fitz Award for typifying the spirit of racing - named for the late trainerHorse trainerIn horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
, Sunny Jim FitzsimmonsSunny Jim FitzsimmonsJames Edward Fitzsimmons was a thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, New York, Fitzsimmons began his career in 1885 working at a racetrack as a stable boy. After nearly ten less-than-successful years as a thoroughbred jockey, he became too heavy for that job and took... - Walter Haight Award for lifetime excellence in turf writing - named for the Washington Post racing columnist
- Isaac Murphy AwardIsaac Murphy AwardThe Isaac Murphy Award is an American honor presented annually since 1995 by the National Turf Writers Association of the United States to the thoroughbred horse racing jockey with the highest winning percentage who has ridden in a minimum of 500 races during the year...
to the jockeyJockeyA jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
with the year's highest winning percentage - named for African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
jockey, Isaac Burns MurphyIsaac Burns MurphyIsaac Burns Murphy was an African-American Hall of Fame jockey, who is considered one of the greatest riders in American Thoroughbred horse racing history. Murphy won three Kentucky Derbies.-Early life:...
See also
- United States Harness Writers AssociationUnited States Harness Writers AssociationThe United States Harness Writers Association, or USHWA, is a media organization that covers the sport of harness racing.The association was formed in 1947 by writers covering harness races at Roosevelt Raceway in New York City. Only promoters and members of the press can join as active members of...
- National Sportscasters and Sportswriters AssociationNational Sportscasters and Sportswriters AssociationThe National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, or NSSA, is an organization of sports media members in the United States. It constitutes the American chapter of the International Sports Press Association ....