2011 Equine Canada Media Award: Darryl Kaplan

Darryl Kaplan of Toronto, ON, has been named as the recipient of the 2011 Equine Canada Media Award.

In memory of Susan Jane Anstey, and in recognition of her invaluable contributions to Canadian equine interests, the Equine Canada Media Award is presented to an exceptional individual who has delivered outstanding media coverage that served to enhance the image of Canadian equine interests to the Canadian public.

Darryl Kaplan has been working for Trot, the official magazine of Standardbred Canada for eight years, five of which in the position of editor-in-chief.

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With Kaplan at the helm, Trot became the first Canadian magazine to be named North America’s Best Overall Publication by American Horse Publications in 2011, beating out 117 other magazines to receive this honour.

Kaplan has won a Sovereign Award for Best Thoroughbred Racing Feature Story, a World Trotting Conference Award for Best International Horse Racing Feature, and an American Horse Publications “Service to the Reader Award.”

While the merit of his previous industry recognition of his outstanding media coverage is reason enough to honour him with the Equine Canada Media Award, Kaplan had more to prove when it comes to expanding the audience of his sport.

Early in 2011, Kaplan saw a new opportunity to introduce the Standardbred racing to the mainstream public. Rogers Communications chose to broaden the brand of its specialty channel Sportsnet and created Canada’s first national sports magazine, Sportsnet Magazine.

Kaplan approached the editors with the story of Roger Hamm, a life-long horseman whose heart stopped beating during a race, and the story around it. Impressed with the pitch and subsequent writing, Kaplan wrote a feature in Sportsnet Magazine’s October 31st issue, “Win or Die Trying.”

“It is an honour to receive the Equine Canada Media Award,’ said Kaplan. “The opportunity to tell the stories of Canada’s horses, and the horsepeople who dedicate their lives to them, is something I am very thankful for. Seeing San Pail and Hickstead, two of the greatest horses ever to compete for Canada, honoured on the same night I received the award, was really quite special.

Added Kaplan, “I am thankful to Equine Canada, Standardbred Canada, and to our excellent team at Trot Magazine for their continued commitment to producing a superior product that the standardbred horse industry can be proud of.”

Open to all types of Media (print, television broadcast, internet and photography), the Susan Jane Anstey Media Award is given for a specific event or story, an ongoing event or story, or an outstanding effort throughout the year.

Susan Jane was a valiant champion of Canada’s development in international sport and long-time supporter of the Canadian Equestrian Team. As both a talented publisher and working journalist, Susan Jane provided a dedicated Canadian journalistic presence at World Equestrian Games and Olympic Competitions from 1984 through to Greece in 2004. Through publications such as Horse Sport, Horse-Canada and Canadian Thoroughbred, Susan Jane provided a national voice for the Canadian equestrian community, and a forum for a national dialogue on the issues that have affected and defined our sport. Equine Canada is proud to present this award in her honour.

At the Equine Canada Annual Awards Gala, on Friday, February 3, 2012, in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Kaplan was awarded with the 2011 Equine Canada Media Award.