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 October 10, 2012 —
Keeneland and Woodbine Entertainment Group were declared co-winners of
this year’s Simulcast Award at the International Simulcast Conference in
Clearwater Beach, Fla. The award gives both tracks the distinction of
becoming five-time winners of the prestigious contest. The crystal
trophies were 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 the winners as best among the 12 North American
racetracks entered for consideration.
The judges cited Keeneland’s superb, sharp video and multiple paddock
cameras as well as the streamlined Trakus presentation providing an
enhanced viewing experience. Woodbine’s graphics package combined with
exceptional commentators impressed the judges, who noted that “At
Woodbine, it’s all about the horse.”
“We are so proud of our broadcast team and this award,” said Keeneland
President and CEO Bill Thomason. “Their dedication to making an
outstanding simulcast product comes from their understanding and
appreciation for what horseplayers want. It also is a tribute to the
teamwork that goes into doing a broadcast of that caliber and to the
leadership of our Director of Broadcast Services G.D Hieronymus.”
“I’d like to thank the panel of judges for recognizing what is a great
source of pride for Woodbine, the outstanding work of our Broadcast
group,” said Nick Eaves, Woodbine’s CEO. “Congratulations to Doug
Flaherty, Senior Director of Broadcasting, and his team for the
tremendous honor.”
This year’s panel of judges consisted of: Vic Zast, author, Blood-Horse
contributor and former racing executive with Delaware North Companies;
Mike Mullaney, former Director of Media Relations at Gulfstream Park and
Eastern Edition Editor/National Features Editor of the Daily Racing
Form; Joe Clancy, Editor/Publisher/Owner of ST Publishing, publisher of
Steeplechase Times and the Saratoga Special; Gary West, ESPN columnist,
former president of the National Turf Writers Association and former
racing columnist for the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram; 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.
Keeneland’s winning entry originally aired April 12, 2012 and Woodbine’s
on August 6, 2012.
The winning production had noteworthy competition from other
vote-getting tracks such as Calder, Churchill Downs, Del Mar
Thoroughbred Club, Gulfstream and Mohawk. 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, 2011), 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, in association with
the American Greyhound Track Operators Association.
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