A pair of Media Eclipse Awards announced

Horseracing Betting Lines

12/28/2011 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Claire Novak of ESPN.com and Jennie Rees of the Louisville Courier-Journal have each been honored with a Media Eclipse Award for Writing. Novak received her award in the Feature/Commentary category and Rees picked up her third Eclipse for News/Enterprise writing.

Novak, a first time honoree, was recognized for her piece about longtime track announcer Tom Durkin.

"It's a great honor to win an Eclipse Award and something I wished for as a kid growing up," said Novak. "Tom Durkin is one of the most recognized and respected fixtures of our industry. Everybody knows his name, but did people really know what he was going through calling these major network races? I wanted to convey this emotional part of his career and his reaction to the changes he was experiencing."

The profile on Durkin, titled "Pressure off Durkin at Belmont," appeared on ESPN.com on June 10. In it, the veteran race caller described his reasons for stepping away from calling the Triple Crown races on NBC Sports.

Novak began her thoroughbred writing career following high school graduation. She founded Hopeful Farm Foundation for Children with special needs in Lexington, KY.

Rees' article, "Breeders' Cup 2011: Jockeys Rein in Their Emotions," concerned the post-race fight at the 2010 Breeders' Cup between Calvin Borel and Javier Castellano after the running of the Marathon. It dealt with the reasons for the encounter and its aftermath. It appeared in the Louisville Courier-Journal on October 30.

"We're always looking for stories that will be of interest to a general audience during the showcase weeks of racing coverage, such as the Breeders' Cup," Rees said whose previously was honored in 1988 and 1993. "Having covered Borel for years and also Castellano, the explosion of emotions from these two gentlemen after the Breeders' Cup was jolting. It got me thinking about the unique dynamics of the jocks' room. Unlike anything else in professional sports, not only do these highly motivated athletes have to go back in the locker room and be with their competitors, there's the safety factor where their welfare on the track in large measure rests in each other's hands.

"We felt it was a topic that had not been fully explored. I really want to thank my newspaper and sports editor Harry Bryan for committing the time and space to tell this story. But what made the story was all the jockeys who spoke so candidly about involvement in such sometimes unpleasant situations."

The Eclipse Awards are voted upon by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters. The 41st annual Eclipse Awards will be presented on Monday, January 16 in Beverly Hills, CA.

Hamkooki Horseracing Betting News

<< Brees, Pierre-Paul, Akers named NFC weekly winners
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and San Francisco 49ers kicker David Akers have been selected as the NFC's top players for Week 16 of the NFL season.

<< Patriots' Brady among AFC players of the week
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Indianapolis Colts defensive end Robert Mathis and Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Richard Seymour have been named AFC players of the week for Week 16 of the NFL

<< Redskins release RB Torain
Ashburn, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Redskins released running back Ryan Torain on Wednesday. Torain, who led the team in rushing last season with 742 yards and four touchdowns, was slowed by a fractured hand he suffer

<< Yankees sign Okajima to minor league deal
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees have signed left-handed reliever Hideki Okajima to a minor league contract, according to a story on the team's website. The 36-year-old Okajima compiled a 17-8 mark with a 3.11 ear

<< Hoffenheim lands Wieser
Sinsheim, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hoffenheim announced Wednesday that the club has completed the signing of Sandro Wieser from Swiss club FC Basel on a deal that will keep him at the Sinsheim club until June 2016. Wieser, 18, emerged

Dolphins' Long placed on IR >>
Davie, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miami Dolphins left tackle Jake Long was placed on injured reserve with a torn right biceps muscle. Long suffered the injury during Saturday's 27-24 loss against the Patriots. The 26-year-old was name

Honduras international Bernardez joins Earthquakes >>
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Earthquakes announced on Wednesday that the club has signed Honduras international defender Victor Bernardez. The 29-year-old moves to San Jose after spending the past three season

Rams CB Harris says he's retiring >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Al Harris, who played with four teams in a 14-year NFL career, says he is retiring. Harris, 37, wants to make a quick transition to coaching, according to the St. Louis Rams' Twitter account. The Rams

Weber State finalizes 2012 schedule under Smith >>
Ogden, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New Weber State football coach John L. Smith will open the 2012 season with the Wildcats by visiting two Football Bowl Subdivision opponents, Fresno State and Brigham Young. Weber State, which hired Smith on Dec.

Vikings QB Ponder practices, will start >>
Eden Prairie, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder practiced Wednesday and is on pace to start Sunday's season-finale against the Bears despite suffering a concussion over the weekend. "Christian made

Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

NFL Sports Betting

NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

NFL Betting

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.