Thoroughbred owner and breeder Jim McIngvale will be honored along with Eclipse Award-winning photographer Barbara Livingston, broadcaster Chris Lincoln, and turf writers Tom Pedulla and Mike Welsch during the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters' 62nd annual Awards Dinner Nov. 2 in Lexington.
The NTWAB Awards Dinner is the organization's only fundraiser, and a portion of the proceeds of the event will fund Thoroughbred industry charities and internships for prospective racing journalists. The 2022 NTWAB Awards Dinner will be held at Malone's Prime in Lexington.
McIngvale, widely known as "Mattress Mack" for the television personality he long ago adopted as owner of a hugely successful chain of furniture stores in Texas, will be honored with the Mr. Fitz Award for typifying the spirit of racing. McIngvale is one of the most visible personalities in racing through the tireless promotion of his stallion Runhappy , the 2015 champion male sprinter. McIngvale's philanthropy and generosity during regional crises also have brought him widespread praise, while several massive wagers on racing and sporting events in recent years also have brought him a measure of attention as someone willing to roll the dice in the name of free enterprise and charity.
Livingston, chief photographer for the Daily Racing Form, will be honored with the Joe Palmer Award for meritorious service to racing. A native of Schenectady, N.Y., Livingston started her obsession with photographing horse racing at age 10. A six-time Eclipse Award-winning photographer, Livingston is the author of seven books, including four in her Old Friends series, and also owns the Raftery/Turfoto collection of historical negatives, preserving the work of legendary photographer Jim Raftery.
Lincoln, an Eclipse Award winner who served as longtime producer and host of ESPN's Racing Across America and Racehorse Digest programs in the 1980s and 1990s, will be honored with the Jim McKay Award for career excellence in broadcasting. Lincoln logged more than 8.6 million travel miles over six continents over a more than 25-year career covering racing. Lincoln is a member of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
Welsch, a member of Daily Racing Form's editorial team since 1972, and Pedulla, who covered racing for USA Today from 1995 to 2012 and current contributor to multiple publications, will each be honored with the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in Turf writing. Welsch serves as DRF's lead clocker at racing's major events and works on-site for the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby (G1), Breeders' Cup, and other major events. Pedulla, a longtime NTWAB member who served as the organization's president from 2012-16, started his career in 1976 and continues as the lead writer for America's Best Racing.
Tickets for the NTWAB Awards Dinner, which can be purchased online through EventBrite are $85 for NTWAB members and Breeders' Cup credentialed media and $110 for non-members and guests. Invitations will be mailed to NTWAB members, and non-members can request an invitation by contacting Jennifer Kelly at thesirbarton@gmail.com.
