BUCKLEY WINS FRUTKOFF PREAKNESS AWARD SPONSORED BY NIKON

To Be Recognized at Alibi Breakfast May 17

BALTIMORE – Rick Buckley, a freelance photographer and native of Baltimore, will be awarded the Jerry Frutkoff Preakness Photography Award, sponsored by Nikon, Thursday, May 17 at the Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course.

The award is given annually to the best Preakness picture from the previous year.

Buckley’s photo is a head-on shot of the stretch duel between winner Cloud Computing and jockey Javier Castellano and Classic Empire and jockey Julien Leparoux. Track Photographer Jim McCue said Buckley’s award was “well deserved.” Buckley’s photo graced the cover of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred.

“It is my distinct pleasure and with great honor that I accept this award named in memory of Jerry Frutkoff,” Buckley said. “I was fortunate enough to know Jerry quite well for nearly a decade before his passing. He was an amazing photographer, and an even better person and an example to us all of how to treat everyone with respect and dignity. I am truly humbled and thankful to be included among the past select recipients to receive this.”

Buckley, who walked hots in the 1980s at Timonium for his uncle, Charles Frock, has worked for a number of publications including Horsemen’s Journal, Thoroughbred Times, and Chicago Tribune.

The Alibi Breakfast, which began in the 1930’s on the porch of the historic Pimlico Clubhouse, features a gathering of media, owners, trainers, jockeys, horsemen and fans to celebrate the Preakness and gain interesting and humorous race predictions. 

About Pimlico Race Course

Legendary Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the Middle Jewel in horse racing’s famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed, American Pharoah and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.

The Stronach Group is North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, home of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry. For more information contact David Joseph at david.joseph@marylandracing.com or call 954.658.7156.