Backstretch workers recognized by the first El Mejor Awards to be hosted by Past the Wire
The Californer/10155868

DEL MAR, Calif. - Californer -- The Breeders' Cup of 2021 is being held at Del Mar in California on November 5th and 6th. Earlier that week the winners of the inaugural El Mejor Awards for backstretch workers in the Thoroughbred Horse Racing Industry will be announced on Past the Wire.
The champions of racing will be crowned at the Breeders' Cup and recognized at the Eclipse Awards, also in California during Super Bowl week. It is long overdue that as an industry the Sport of Kings recognizes these hard workers who contribute so much to the sport and are an integral part in it continuing.
The El Mejor Awards are the brainchild of Michael J. Northcutt who approached Past the Wire about hosting the event and working on the logistics. Past the Wire's Jonathan Stettin had this to say:
"When Mike contacted us I was immediately interested and eager to help. A lot will depend on the industry response, but I do not see why the entire industry would not want to get behind something like this. We have put together a plan and it is no coincidence we will announce the winners prior to the Breeders' Cup with the hope they will also broadcast or announce the winners in some fashion."

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The categories for the inaugural El Mejor Awards are as follows:
Best Groom
Best Hotwalker
Best Barn Foreman
Best Track Kitchen and Staff
Any trainer, barn, or backstretch worker can nominate anyone who holds one of these jobs or any Kitchen located on the backstretch of any US racetrack through the comments section of a designated post on the Past the Wire website homepage. Visit us at  https://pastthewire.com/ for more details.
Additional information will also be available within that post on Past the Wire.
The Judges are:
Racing Analyst - Ashley Mailloux
Trainer - Mark Hennig
Trainer -  Karl Broberg
Racing Analyst - Ellis Starr
Jockey Agent -  Jose Santos Jr.
We anticipate each winner receiving $500 directly from a designated sponsor for each award. Any racetracks or racing organizations, farms, products, ADW's etc interested in sponsoring an award please contact Past the Wire or Jonathan Stettin.
Jonathan added this:
" We are optimistic finding sponsors for each award won't be an issue but you never know. That would be the only thing that would put a damper on things and possibly cause smaller awards or at worst cancellation. We'd hate to see that happen, but this is the Sport of Kings so I'd like to think it is a non issue. "