Entries are now open for all the writing and photography categories for this year’s Derby Awards.
It is hoped that as many members as possible will be able to find the time to enter at least one of the six categories.
Entries should contain written pieces, photographs or audio/video clips as appropriate, which were produced between the 2023 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe and the 2024 running of the race, on 6th October.
Audio/video clips should be no more than five minutes in length to be considered.
Please note that the HWPA Committee has agreed several changes to the entry conditions for the Awards, which largely relate to bringing the awards for writers and photographers into being decided on the same basis. These are highlighted in RED.
Racing Writer of the Year (Clive Graham Trophy)
Entries for this category can include comment pieces, features, investigative reports, interviews or opinion pieces. Entrants are required to submit THREE pieces of work.
Entries should be submitted both in the original format and as an anonymised Word, Google Doc or similar.
Reporter of the Year (John Oaksey Trophy)
Entries for this category should be a strong news story, especially a scoop or an exclusive, broken by the reporter, on any aspect of horse racing. Entries may be written, audio or video pieces. Entrants are required to submit THREE pieces of work.
Specialist Writer of the Year
Entries for this category can include, but are not limited to, analytical work, bloodstock writing, international racing, regional racing, form analysis and interpretation, industry analysis or tipping pieces. Entrants are required to submit THREE pieces of work.
Please state with your entry which of the categories you are entering under:
- Breeding and Bloodstock
- Historical
- Industry
- International Racing
- Regional Racing
- Tipping and Form Analysis
- Miscellaneous
Entries should be submitted both in the original format and as an anonymised Word, Google Doc or similar.
Photographer of the Year
Entrants must submit SIX images.
Picture of the Year (Gerry Cranham Trophy)
Entrants must submit ONE image. This can be one of the six images submitted for the Photographer of the Year award but should be submitted a second time, so that it can be identified. If an image not in the portfolio is submitted, then please make sure the image for Picture of the Year is clearly labelled.
Entries for the two Photography awards are to be submitted digitally:
The maximum pixels of the images being 4500 on the longest side, saved at 10 in Photoshop.
No images to be used from video grabs.
Usual darkroom techniques only to be applied to images.
Emerging Talent (Alan Lee Trophy)
Entrants MUST have been under 30 years of age on the date of the 2024 Arc, 6th October, and should submit their age with their entry. Their THREE pieces of work can cover a range of media, including traditional written and photography, blogs, social media and broadcasting.
Previous winners of any Derby Award are not qualified to enter the Emerging Talent Award.
The closing date for entries in all categories is Wednesday 16th October 2024. No entries received after that date will be considered.
Entries should be submitted to hwpacontacts@gmail.com with the email subject stating clearly the category that they are for.
Entries in all categories will be assessed by independent and anonymous judges, who have been chosen for their depth of knowledge of both written journalism/photography and of horse racing.
In all six categories, the judges will select a shortlist of four finalists and choose the winner.
The winners will be presented with their Trophy at the Derby Awards Lunch at the Lancaster Hotel on 2nd December 2024.
Please get in touch, if there are any questions, and Good Luck!