September
21, 2010 - Woodbine was declared the winner of this year’s Simulcast
Award recently at the International Simulcast Conference in Clearwater
Beach, Fla. The award gives Woodbine the distinction of becoming the
only four-time winner of the prestigious contest. Debbie Chomiak,
Simulcast Director of Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG), accepted the
beautiful crystal trophy sponsored by Post Time Technologies.
The Simulcast Award honors excellence in the presentation of a
racetrack’s live race product to its simulcast outlets. A panel of five
judges selected Woodbine as best among 12 North American racetracks
entered for consideration.
(Debbie Chomiak accepts the award for
Woodbine Entertainment Group) The judges cited
Woodbine’s use of the Trakus technology in displaying in-race running
order with odds, excellent shots of the horses both in the paddock and
on the track, excellent pre-race and breeding analysis, along with
noting changes in track and weather conditions. Senior Director of
Broadcasting Douglas Flaherty heads the track’s television production
crew, while Kris Platts was the Producer/Director of the telecast.
This year’s panel of judges consisted of: Theresia Muller, CPA and
Treasurer of Horseplayers Association of North America (HANA); a
committee of University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program students,
coordinated by Program Director Doug Reed; Steve Schwartz, handicapper
for ProPickRacing.com; Michael Amo, Founder and President of the
Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association (Thorofan); and Mike Dorr, who while
not at his daytime job as Pricing and Value Creation Director for
Asurion, Inc., is a devoted racing and handicapping enthusiast.
The 12 track entries were the actual simulcast audio and video
transmission of a single race sent to wagering outlets. Each entry
included the pre-race features, odds, will-pays, commentaries, the
actual running of the race, the results, and post-race features.
Woodbine’s winning entry originally aired August 8, 2010.
The winning production had noteworthy competition from other
vote-getting tracks such as Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Keeneland,
Arlington Park, Mohawk, and Oaklawn Park. Each received first, second,
or third-place votes on several ballots.
Previous winners of the award are Churchill Downs (1997), Turfway Park
(1998), Penn National (1999), Santa Anita Park (2000-01), Hollywood Park
(2002), Keeneland (2003, 2008-9), Los Alamitos (2007), Del Mar
Thoroughbred Club (2005), and Woodbine Entertainment Group (2004,
2006-7, 2010).
The International Simulcast Conference is hosted by the Thoroughbred
Racing Associations and Harness Tracks of America, and in association
with the American Greyhound Track Operators Association. |
