Smith Earns Frutkoff Award, MacAdam Woods Award

LAUREL, MD - Photographer Patrick Smith and writer Mike MacAdam will be among the honorees at the Alibi Breakfast May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.

Smith will receive the Jerry Frutkoff Award for the best Preakness picture of 2021 while MacAdam will receive the David F. Woods Award for best Preakness story.

The Alibi Breakfast began in the 1930s on the porch of the old Pimlico Clubhouse and features a gathering of media, owners, trainers, jockeys, horsemen and fans to celebrate the Preakness and gain interesting and humorous race predictions.

Smith is a staff photographer based in Baltimore for Getty Images. This is his second consecutive win, and third overall in the Frutkoff.

“There is nothing like being able to travel the globe covering the world’s biggest sporting events for Getty Images, but it’s always magical covering Preakness Stakes in my own backyard,” Smith said. “Being on the rail with guidance from my colleague Rob Carr of Getty will always be special as he’s taught me so much about this exciting sport. This honor is always shared with him.

“During the 2021 Preakness, I was camped on the head-on position. As I watched Flavien Prat guide Rombauer through the field and gain momentum, I know he’d rejoice with an iconic moment if he crossed the finish first - and he did.

“One of the greatest moments in sport is defeating the favorite. This historic image defines that and makes viewers feel the jubilation of the moment.”

MacAdam, turf writer and sports columnist for the Daily Gazette in Schenectady, N.Y., is a native of Rochester, New York who was first exposed to horse racing in 1987 and has provided daily live coverage of the Saratoga meet. MacAdam’s story, written on deadline, was entitled: “Preakness Winner Rombauer Runs Out of the Baffert Shadow.”

In 2012, MacAdam won the Joe Hirsch Memorial Writing Award for Belmont Stakes coverage. He recently was named Sportswriter of the Year by the New York Press Association for the second time in the last three years, finished first in the sports column writing category of the New York New Publishers Association writing contest in 2020 and has been recognized over the years by the New York State Associated Press Association.

“It’s a gross understatement to say what an honor it is to be recognized by the Maryland Jockey Club with the David F. Woods Award,” MacAdam said. “Writing stories about horse racing is never anything less than a fascinating and rewarding challenge. Thanks again to the MJC for this wonderful award, and to the Gazette for maintaining a commitment to racing coverage on a broad scale beyond our [rightfully] hyperlocal profile. Mostly, though, thanks to our readers for being a passionate audience.”

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