Clevenger Wins Media Eclipse for Photography

Photographer Michael Clevenger of the Louisville Courier-Journal has won a 2015 Media Eclipse Award for Photography for his picture of American Pharoah   winning the 2015 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced Jan. 12.

 

The Eclipse Awards Steering Committee has decided to give two awards in the category this year after mistakes occurred after Clevenger's photo was submitted for consideration.

 

Clevenger's photo, from the inside rail at Belmont Park, captures American Pharoah's jockey, Victor Espinoza, peeking over his shoulder to see the field behind him, as the 3-year-old colt crossed the finish line with the Belmont Park stands packed with 90,000 fans roaring in jubilation at the achievement of the first Triple Crown in 37 years. The photo appeared in the Courier-Journal on June 7.

 

This is the third Photography Eclipse Award for Clevenger, who also won the honor in 2002 and in 2010 for photographs that were published in the Courier-Journal.

 

Clevenger's photo was submitted for the contest in good order before the deadline but was inadvertently not passed on to the judges. Last week, the Eclipse Awards Steering Committee convened the photography judges in the competition to review the photograph and it was determined that Clevenger's photo should be honored along with Scott Serio's submission.

 

Clevenger will be honored along with Serio, who also earned a 2015 Media Eclipse Award for Photography for a shot of American Pharoah training at Keeneland before the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), at the 45th annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony Jan. 16 at Gulfstream Park.