Media Eclipse for Barbaro

Yesterday's Blood Horse reported that the HBO documentary, Barbaro, won the Eclipse Media Award for 2007. The honor, which will be given out at the Eclipse dinner in Los Angeles on January 21, is the horse industry's equivalent of an Oscar. Eclipse Awards are highly coveted and are awarded to horses in various categories such as Sprinter, Juvenile, Turf and of course Horse of the Year. Last year, Team Barbaro, won a special Eclipse for their efforts to save the horse and Barbaro was in the running for Horse of the Year.

The Barbaro documentary, which is the one that screened at Unionville High School in Unionville, Pa back in June, beat out the NBC documentary about Barbaro that was screened at Barbaro's birthday party in April at Delaware Park. What is interesting is that the HBO documentary was not the first full length feature on the deceased horse and it focused more on the human characters in the drama, notably the Jacksons.

I actually remember when HBO was filming at the Jackson's farm. It was in February of last year, after Barbaro had been euthanized, and ever the gracious hosts, the Jacksons opened their home to hordes of media types who descended in droves. I don't think they expected quite the entourage that it took to create the piece. But I do know they were quite pleased with the result, which depicts them as unwavering in their determination to save their horse's life--not for breeding purposes but because it was the right thing to do.

At the screening, I met Frank DeFord, HBO's senior statesman, so to speak, and one of the great sportswriters (in my opinion) of all times. It didn't hurt that he went to Princeton so that is how I approached him and he was actually eager to talk about what I had planned for the book. "What's left to say?" I remember him asking me. I still think there is a lot--especially given the perspective of time--but it may in fact turn out that he was right.

Frank DeFord's commentaries are archived on NPR and if you get a chance see if you can find one of his recent ones about the Boston Red Sox and how they have, in fact, turned into the Yankees and in the process, lost some of their unique appeal. He is wry, very smart and not afraid to write about sports with a glint of intelligence.

As for the Eclipse, it just proves, once again, that great stories stand the test of time.