The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, National Writers and Broadcasters, and Daily Racing Forms announced on January 12 that Jay Privman, whose prolific career includes print and television, and radio, as well as decades-long service to the industry, will be honored with a special Eclipse Award for Outstanding Career at the 52nd Annual Eclipse Awards at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida on January 26th.
A highly respected member of his profession by Thoroughbred racers as well as his peers, Privman’s career has extended far beyond his work in horse racing. He is actively involved in many philanthropic endeavors and as a key member of the NTWAB he has provided invaluable guidance on issues affecting his peers and the sport. this.
“This is quite humbling and most appreciated, as it has been awarded by my colleagues and those I have defended,” says Privman. “I’m thrilled to see their names have also won Special Awards, such as the greatest racer I’ve ever met, Laffit Pincay Jr., and the great racing journalist Charles Hatton. Number 30. is used in print to signify the end of a race, so I am deeply moved to become the 30th person to receive a Special Award at the end of my career.”
A college student working part-time for The Los Angeles Daily News, Privman covered his first race in 1980 — ultimately the Hall of Fame Spectacular Bid inductee’s victory in the race. Malibu Stakes. He went on to work full-time for The Daily News from 1981-91, then became a West Coast editor for The Racing Times (1991-92) and a West Coast correspondent for The New York Times (1992- 98). He was also a reporter for The Thoroughbred Record and The Thoroughbred Times (1983-98).
But Privman is best known to a nationwide audience for his work at Daily Racing Form, which he joined in October 1998 as a national correspondent, eventually taking over the Activity column. The famous Derby was launched decades earlier by one of his mentors, the perennial Daily Racing Form. columnist Joe Hirsch, a member of the National Racing Honor Museum and named for the honor. Privman, inducted into the National Museum in 2021, announced his retirement from the DRF in September 2022. The last major race he entered was in Flight route playing in Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar.
“For more than three decades, Jay Privman has been the gold standard for professionalism and objectivity in reporting,” said Steven Crist, former editor-in-chief of The Racing Times and former CEO and publisher. of the Daily Racing Form said. “He was respected by both readers and fellow journalists throughout the sport, and his exemplary reporting will be remembered.”
In addition to his distinguished career in writing, Privman also covers horse racing on television for CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC and NBCSN. Privman is also a longtime co-host of the radio show Thoroughbred Los Angeles on KLAA-AM 830.
During his years as a pitch writer, Privman has worked tirelessly to tell the story of purebred racing, turning what he describes as a childhood hobby into a real career, a career. has lasted for more than four decades. He was a mainstay on the Road to Kentucky Horseracing, including many major races leading up to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Triple Crown. He competed in every Kentucky Derby from 1982-2019 (missing 2020 and 2021 respectively due to COVID-19 precautions and bladder cancer surgery) before returning for the final leg. take the Triple Crown in 2022 and every Breeders’ Cup from the 1984 opening to 2021 (missed 2020 because of the pandemic).
Privman is the author of the books “Breders’ Cup: Championship Days of Thoroughbred Races” and “Del Mar at 75” and a contributing author to the Daily Racing Form book “Champions”. He has also served as a reporter on eight Eclipse Award-winning broadcasts: three on ESPN and NBC and one on Sirius Radio and Fox Sports West 2.
Privman has won many titles for his thoroughbred coverage of the race. He is a six-time Red Smith Award winner (1989, 1990, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2008) since Churchill Downs for the best Kentucky Derby story; two-time winner of the David F. Woods Award (2002, 2013) from the Maryland Jockey Club for best Preakness Stakes (G1) story; and a two-time winner of the Joe Hirsch Award (2010, 2016) from the New York Racing Association for best Belmont Stakes (G1) story.
Privman’s Breeders’ Cup awards include six Joe Hirsch Awards (2001, 2003, 2005, 2015, 2017, 2018) for news reporting and the Bill Leggett Award (2017) for outstanding writing. Other honors include the Old Hilltop Award from the Maryland Jockey Club (2005); Walter Haight Award, from the National Lawn Writers Association (2005); inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (2011); and the Charles W. Engelhard Award, from Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (2016).
Privman and his wife, Anne Warner, reside in Carlsbad, Calif., 11 miles from his first race, Del Mar.
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
