Entries are now open for all the writing and photography categories for the 2025 HWPA 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 seven categories.
Entries are open to all members of the HWPA, who have paid their annual subscription fee by the entry closing date on Wednesday October 15th. Click here to join the HWPA.
Entries should contain written pieces, photographs or audio/video clips as appropriate, which were produced between the 2024 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe and the 2025 running of the race, on 5th October.
Please note that the HWPA Committee has agreed several changes to the entry conditions for the Awards, these are highlighted in RED.
Writers, Photographers, Broadcasters and others submitting entries agree that their submitted work can appear on the HWPA website, on our social media accounts, in the brochure and on display during the Lunch.
Racing Writer of the Year (Alastair Down 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 either strong news stories, especially a scoop or an exclusive, broken by the reporter, on any aspect of horseracing, or race reports, work either filed as it happens or for publication shortly after the event. Entries may be written, audio or video pieces.
Audio/video clips should be no more than FIVE minutes in length to be considered.
Entrants are required to submit THREE pieces of work.
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 following categories you are entering under:
- Breeding and Bloodstock
- Historical
- Industry
- International Racing
- Regional Racing
- Tipping and Form Analysis
Entries should be submitted both in the original format and as an anonymised Word, Google Doc or similar.
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)
The Emerging Talent Award is intended to showcase individuals that have recently begun their media careers in horse racing and entries are accepted at the discretion of the Judges.
Entrants are required to submit THREE pieces of work. These can cover a range of media, including traditional written and photography, blogs, social media and broadcasting.
Audio/video clips should be no more than five minutes in length to be considered.
Previous winners of any Derby Award are not qualified to enter the Emerging Talent Award. In addition, entrants can be shortlisted for this Award no more than twice.
Content Award
This is a new Award, introduced to reflect the rapidly changing state of journalism.
The award is intended to recognise outstanding work across social media, AV projects, podcasts and all other multi-media outlets.
Entrants are invited to submit a showreel or slideshow of work up to a maximum of TWO minutes in length.
The Award will be judged on the range and depth of the submitted entry, with particular credit given for a portfolio that shows work that is engaging, entertaining and informative.
General Information
The closing date for entries in all categories is Wednesday 15th October 2025. 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 or categories 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 seven 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 Monday 1st December 2025.
Please get in touch, if there are any questions, and Good Luck!