Pedulla To Receive Old Hilltop Award

April 30th, 2023

To be Honored May 18 at Alibi Breakfast

BALTIMORE — Tom Pedulla, who has reported on Thoroughbred racing for more than three decades for numerous publications, will receive the Old Hilltop Award at the Alibi Breakfast Thursday, May 18 at Pimlico Race Course.

Pedulla will be recognized for covering Thoroughbred racing with excellence and distinction for more than 30 years.

The legendary 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 while gaining interesting and humorous race predictions.

Pedulla, who started his career keeping box scores at New York Yankees games for Associated Press, became the Yankees beat writer for Gannett in 1986. Pedulla has covered Thoroughbred racing for America’s Best Racing, Paulick Report, BloodHorse, Horse Racing Nation, the New York Times and USA Today. He received the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in turf writing last year and is a two-time winner of the David F. Woods for best Preakness story.

Pedulla has covered 25 of the last 27 Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup events, and 17 Super Bowls, six Olympics and 11 World Series.

“It is a great honor to receive the Old Hilltop Award from the Maryland Jockey Club. At this time, I cannot help but to think of my father, Louis, an English teacher who brought me The New York Times sports section each day from grammar school through college so I could study the writing style of columnist Red Smith and other greats,” Pedulla said. “I am indebted as well to outlets such as America’s Best Racing, BloodHorse, Paulick Report, Horse Racing Nation, The New York Times and others for allowing me to continue to write.”

Tickets for the Alibi Breakfast can be purchased at: https://am.ticketmaster.com/marylandjockeyclub/ALIBI

About The Stronach Group

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland).

For more information, email david.joseph@marylandracing.com, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.