Bryce Miller, a San Diego Union-Tribune writer who earned a media Eclipse Award in 2019, died March 22. He was 56.
Miller earned the media Eclipse in the News/Enterprise Writing category for his Dec. 8, 2018, story in the San Diego Union-Tribune: "Anniversary of Deadly San Luis Rey Fire Strains Still."
Del Mar plans to celebrate Miller's life at a race this summer.
"The staff and officers of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of San Diego Union-Tribune sports columnist Bryce Miller due to cancer," Del Mar said in a release. "Bryce was a writer who covered all sports, but who learned particularly to love the unique sport of racing with all its nuances, leading to him penning marvelous pieces about its horses and people that were always excellent reads.
"As a tribute to his abilities, his courageous writing about the horrific Lilac fire in 2017 that resulted in equine tragedy at the nearby San Luis Rey Downs training facility won him Thoroughbred racing's ultimate writing honor—an Eclipse Award."
Del Mar CEO Joe Harper said the track was fortunate to have him covering racing.
"Bryce was one of those very special guys that come around every once in a while to join the world of horse racing," Harper said. "We were so lucky to have him with us over the past decade and we send heartfelt condolences to his family and many friends.
"Those who knew Bryce admired his talent, his courage as a writer and reporter and his willingness to work hard for a good story. But in addition, there was the special element of friendship: to those who got to be part of his world he was, most of all, a good friend and a good man."
