Walter Haight Award

The Walter Haight Award is an award conferred annually by the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters 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. 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.

Past recipients

Source:

1972 – Jimmy Doyle
1973 – George F. T. Ryall
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