Washington Thoroughbred American Horse Publications 2014 Award Winner

Artist Joe MacKechnie's "Running on Air," which appeared on the cover of the Fall 2013 Washington Thoroughbred, was awarded first place in the Illustration (print or online) category at the 2014 American Horse Publications Annual Awards contest (for material published and dated 2013) held in Charleston, South Carolina on June 21.

July 9, 2014 7:24 pm

Artist Joe MacKechnie’s “Running on Air,” which appeared on the cover of the Fall 2013 Washington Thoroughbred, was awarded first place in the Illustration (print or online) category at the 2014 American Horse Publications Annual Awards contest (for material published and dated 2013) held in Charleston, South Carolina on June 21.

This year’s competition included over 50 classes, 736 entries and 97 contestants, of which 64 became finalists and 38 earned first place awards. A total of 171 awards (first, second, third or honorable mention) were given out at AHP’s “Gallop n’ Grits” seminar held at the historic Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina.

Other Washington Thoroughbred entries sent in for 2013 were: “Female Riders Hold Their Own at Emerald Downs,” Summer 2013, by Lezlie Wolff, Feature Single Article circulation under 10,000 (print); “The Prodigious Fund Steps Up to the Challenge,” by Lezlie Wolff, Fall 2013, Editorial Event Coverage Single Article circulation under 20,000 (print); Stallion Racing in the Snow, taken by Roger Hoff, Winter 2013, Editorial Action Photograph (print or online); 35-year-old Peterhof and His Biggest Fan, taken by Kristy Batie, Winter 2013, Editorial Human-Animal Bond Photograph (print or online); and “Second Chances: Angel,” by Jessica Dawn Eskelson, Winter 2013, Valliant Human-animal Bond Award.

Since 2003, the Washington Thoroughbred has had at least one finalist every year and were also first place award winners in 2006, 2008 and 2009 (two), as well as in 1979.

Among the other Thoroughbred print publications who received awards this year are: Daily Racing Form, Keeneland Magazine, Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred, The Blood-Horse, The Florida Horse and The Saratoga Special.

This year, 25 professional judges placed the classes and provided critiques for all entries in order to encourage members to strive for journalism excellence.