Obituary: Von Borries Earned Media Eclipse Award
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Turf writer Phil Von Borries
Turf writer Philip Von Borries, who authored a pair of books on horse racing and earned a media Eclipse Award, died March 24 in Lexington. He was 74.
Von Borries' books on horse racing include "Racelines: Observations on Horse Racing's Glorious History" and "RaceLens: Vintage Thoroughbred."
In 1990 Von Borries earned an Eclipse Award for local television achievement for his work "Black Gold" that ran on WKPC in Louisville, Ky. Von Borries also earned the John Hervey Award presented by the United States Harness Writers Association.
Von Borries wrote for numerous American, Canadian, and European publications, including BloodHorse, as well as the Thoroughbred Record, Kentucky Derby Magazine, European Racehorse, Thoroughbred Times, Daily Racing Form, Turf & Sport Digest, Hoofbeats, and The Standardbred.
His television work also included a national award-winning documentary on the Kentucky Derby's fabled African-American history: "The Roses of May," which won the 1984 Iris Award.
Von Borries also worked in publicity for Arlington International Racecourse and Churchill Downs, promoting the Arlington Million (G1T) and Kentucky Derby (G1).
Von Borries is the author of five baseball books as well.
In recent years Von Borries received loving care from Providence Pine Meadows in Lexington. His family said that in his memory Von Borries would ask that you do something that makes you happy. For him this would be a Coke, a baseball game, a horse race, or a good meal with family and friends with tons of desserts.