JEANNINE EDWARDS TO RECEIVE PREAKNESS SPECIAL AWARD OF MERIT

Respected Broadcaster to be Recognized May 17 at Alibi Breakfast

BALTIMORE – Jeannine Edwards, who served as senior horse racing reporter for ESPN and ABC for 16 years and provided extensive coverage of the Triple Crown and Preakness Stakes, will receive the Special Award of Merit Thursday, May 17 at the Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course. 

The Special Award of Merit is given to those who have made a positive impact on the racing industry. Previous recipients have been Jim McKay, D. Wayne Lukas, Dr. Dean Richardson and Edgar Prado, Team American Pharoah, Jerry Bailey and King Leatherbury.

Edwards’ career in broadcasting was preceded by 10 years on the racetrack as an exercise rider, apprentice jockey, and trainer in New York and New Jersey. She moved to Maryland in 1993 and worked as the in-house host at Pimlico and Laurel Park.

Edwards was part of the ESPN horse racing team that won three consecutive Eclipse Awards (2009-2011) for Outstanding Live Telecasts, as well as two Emmy nominations. She also covered college football and basketball before retiring in January after a 22-year broadcast career.

“I was stunned when I got the call that I was receiving this award,” Edwards said. “My first reaction was “Me? I don’t deserve something like that!” And then “I haven’t been retired long enough!”  To call this an honor would be an understatement. I’m touched, humbled, and blown away by this award. There are so many long-time, hard-working, talented professionals who have made horse racing their life’s work that I feel extremely blessed to be recognized in this way. A thousand Thank You’s to the Maryland Jockey Club…..for giving me my start in television and now honoring me with this accolade.”

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 atdavid.joseph@marylandracing.com or call 954.658.7156.