Hegarty gets Haight Award

Matt Hegarty of Daily Racing Form has been voted the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in racing journalism by his peers with the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association.

Hegarty is one of four honorees the NTWAB will fete at its awards dinner, which is held annually during Breeders’ Cup week. This year’s event will be held the night of Nov. 2 at The Brigantine, the popular restaurant located just above the far turn at Del Mar.

Hegarty has worked for DRF for 20 years, and prior to that worked for The Thoroughbred Times, his area of expertise being the sport’s business, regulatory, medication, and political issues. In a press release, the NTWAB said Hegarty “deciphers and translates details that can make most people’s eyes glaze over into highly readable, often entertaining, and always understandable stories.”

In addition to Hegarty, the NTWAB will present the Jim McKay Award to Randy Moss of NBC Sports for career excellence in broadcasting; owner Rick Porter – who has battled through cancer while racing the likes of the two-time champion filly Songbird – will receive the Mr. Fitz Award for typifying the spirit of racing; and the Winners Foundation – a California-based organization that aids racing employees with substance abuse, gambling, and mental-health issues – will receive the Joe Palmer Award for long and meritorious service to the sport.

The dinner is open to the public. Information can be requested and tickets purchased through Loren Hebel-Osborne at lorenpr@aol.com.