Big Sport of Turfdom Award

The Big Sport of Turfdom Award has been given annually by the Turf Publicists of America since 1966 to a person or group who enhances coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with the media and Thoroughbred racing publicists.

The Turf Publicists of America, founded in 1951, is made up of approximately 180 Thoroughbred racing publicists and marketing executives at various racetracks throughout North America with the shared goal of promoting the sport of Thoroughbred racing.


Award recipients:

  • 2011 - H. Graham Motion
  • 2010 - Mike E. Smith
  • 2009 - Team Zenyatta: Ann & Jerry Moss, John Shirreffs, Dottie Shirreffs, Mike E. Smith
  • 2008 - J. Larry Jones
  • 2007 - Carl Nafzger
  • 2006 - Dr. Dean Richardson
  • 2005 - Pat Day
  • 2004 - John Servis
  • 2003 - Sackatoga Stable
  • 2002 - Ken and Sue McPeek
  • 2001 - Laura Hillenbrand
  • 2000 - Laffit Pincay, Jr.
  • 1999 - D. Wayne Lukas
  • 1998 - Michael E. Pegram
  • 1997 - Bob Baffert
  • 1996 - Team Cigar: Allen E. Paulson, William I. Mott, Jerry Bailey
  • 1995 - Robert and Beverly Lewis
  • 1994 - Warren A. Croll, Jr.
  • 1993 - Chris McCarron
  • 1992 - Angel Cordero, Jr.
  • 1991 - Hammer and Oaktown Stable
  • 1990 - Carl Nafzger
  • 1989 - Tim Conway
  • 1988 - Julie Krone
  • 1987 - Jack Van Berg
  • 1986 - Jim McKay
  • 1985 - Laffit Pincay, Jr.
  • 1984 - John Henry
  • 1983 - Joe Hirsch
  • 1982 - Woody Stephens
  • 1981 - John Forsythe
  • 1980 - Jack Klugman
  • 1979 - Laz Barrera
  • 1978 - Ron Turcotte
  • 1977 - Steve Cauthen
  • 1976 - Telly Savalas
  • 1975 - Francis P. Dunne
  • 1974 - Eddie Arcaro
  • 1973 - Penny Chenery
  • 1972 - John W. Galbreath
  • 1971 - Burt Bacharach
  • 1970 - Saul Rosen
  • 1969 - Bill Shoemaker
  • 1968 - John A. Nerud
  • 1967 - Allaire du Pont
  • 1966 - E.P. Taylor


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    Mary Barnett Gilson (1877–?)

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    Robert Graves (1895–1985)