first published in the June 2022 Equiery
The annual Alibi Breakfast was held on May 19 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, following a tradition that began in the 1930s when media, owners, trainers, jockeys, horsemen and fans would gather on the porch of the old Pimlico Clubhouse to swap stories and make humorous predictions for the Preakness Stakes. Now, the breakfast continues those humorous traditions but also includes the annual Media Awards.
This year, photographer Patrick Smith earned the Jerry Frutkoff Award for best Preakness picture of 2021 while writer Mike MacAdam earned the David F. Woods Award for best Preakness 2021 story. Joe Clancy earned the Old Hilltop Award and Beyond the Wire earned a Special Award of Merit.
Smith is based out of Baltimore and shoots for Getty Images. This is his second consecutive win and third overall. “There is nothing like being able to travel the globe covering the world’s biggest sporting events for Getty Images, but it’s always magical covering the Preakness Stakes in my own backyard,” Smith said.
MacAdam is a turf writer and sports columnist for the Daily Gazette in Schenectady, N.Y., and a native of Rochester, NY. He was first exposed to horse racing in 1987 and has provided daily live coverage of the Saratoga meet. MacAdam’s winning story was entitled: “Preakness Winner Rombauer Runs Out of the Baffert Shadow.” He said of receiving this award, “It’s a gross understatement to say what an honor it is to be recognized by the Maryland Jockey Club with the David F. Woods Award.”
Clancy is the editor of Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred magazine and co-owner of ST Publishing, Inc., the parent company of The Saratoga Special newspaper and thisishorseracing.com. He was named the 2022 recipient of the Old Hilltop Award for covering Thoroughbred racing with excellence and distinction. In addition to the Old Hilltop Award, Clancy has been recognized with the Maryland Jockey Club’s David F. Woods Memorial Award for coverage of the Preakness in 2014, 2016 and 2020; an Eclipse Award for his coverage of the 2014 Preakness (with his brother Sean Clancy); and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association’s Charles W. Engelhard Award for outstanding coverage of the Thoroughbred industry.
This year, Beyond the Wire celebrated the retiring of its 500th horse and was recognized with the 2022 Special Award of Merit. This award is given by MJC to those who have made a positive impact on the racing industry. “We are honored and really appreciate the recognition, as the program has been a big effort on the part of the Maryland racing industry,” said program administrator Jessica Hammond. Beyond the Wire was launched in 2017.
Also honored at this year’s Alibi Breakfast was 2021 Eclipse Award winner for Older Horse and Horse of the Year, Knicks Go. The Maryland-bred was named this year’s Honorary Postmaster for the 147th running of the Preakness Stakes. Angie and Sabrina Moore of GreenMount Farm in Glyndon bred the grey horse that is now standing in Kentucky. “To be honored during Maryland’s biggest week [of racing] is great. I’m super flattered. It’s unbelievable,” said Sabrina Moore.
