Walter Haight Award

Walter Haight Award

Sport	Horse racing
Awarded for	"Career excellence in turf writing"
Location	U.S.
Presented by	National Turf Writers Association
History
First award	1972
First winner	Jimmy Doyle
Most recent	Steve Andersen

The Walter Haight Award is an award conferred annually by the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters (NTWAB) for career excellence in turf writing. The award is named after Walter Haight, former racing reporter of the Washington Post .

History

Established in 1972, the award honors sports journalist Walter Haight. ^[1] It is presented each year at the annual dinner of the National Turf Writers Association.

The Walter Haight Award began as a recognition of the year's outstanding training achievement, with the first presentation made in 1969 for achievements in 1968. It was later dedicated to turf writers who had made a distinguished contribution to the profession of covering thoroughbred racing. Its first recipient was American sportswriter Jimmy Doyle of the Cleveland Plain Dealer . ^[2]

Past recipients

Source: ^[1]

• 1972 – Jimmy Doyle
• 1973 – George F. T. Ryall (Audax Minor)
• 1974 – Raleigh Burroughs
• 1975 – Don Fair
• 1976 – Saul Rosen
• 1977 – Red Smith
• 1978 – Nelson Fisher
• 1979 – Barney Nagler
• 1980 – Joe Nichols
• 1981 – Bill Robertson
• 1982 – Joe Agrella
• 1983 – Fred Russell
• 1984 – Joe Hirsch
• 1985 – Sam McCracken
• 1986 – Ed Comerford
• 1987 – Si Burick
• 1988 – Leon Rasmussen
• 1989 – William Leggett
• 1990 – Kent Hollingsworth
• 1991 – Bob Harding
• 1992 – Mike Barry, Bill Nack
• 1993 – Jack Mann
• 1994 – Edward L. Bowen
• 1995 – Jay Hovdey
• 1996 – Ed Schuyler Jr.
• 1997 – Jim Bolus
• 1998 – Andrew Beyer
• 1999 – Jennie Rees
• 2000 – Bill Christine
• 2001 – Gary West
• 2002 – Billy Reed
• 2003 – Russ Harris
• 2004 – Steve Haskin
• 2005 – Jay Privman
• 2006 – Steven Crist
• 2007 – Dick Jerardi
• 2008 – Maryjean Wall
• 2009 – Dan Farley
• 2010 – Neil Milbert
• 2011 – David Grening
• 2012 – Bill Mooney
• 2013 – Bob Fortus
• 2014 – Tom LaMarra
• 2015 – Tim Layden
• 2016 – Hank Wesch
• 2017 – Matt Hegarty
• 2018 – Marty McGee
• 2019 – Tim Wilkin
• 2020 – None
• 2021 – Lenny Shulman
• 2022 – Tom Pedulla
• 2023 – Mike Kane
• 2024 – Sean Clancy
• 2025 – Steve Andersen

See also

• National Turf Writers Association

References

1. "Walter Haight Award". ntwab.org. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
2. Mike Ruehling (May 4, 1972). "Palmer Award goes to Rokeby's Mellon". The Courier-Journal. p. 38. Retrieved 2025-12-17.