Thursday, August 19, 2010
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VIC ZIEGEL MEMORIAL RACE HONORS SPORTSWRITER ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 27
Ziegel, born August 16, 1937 in New York City, worked for the New York Post in the 1960’s and 70’s, was hired by The Daily News in 1985 as executive sports editor, and became a sports columnist for The News in 1990.
He was a regular in the press boxes at Aqueduct Racetrack,
“Vic Ziegel loved horse racing and that passion came through in his writing,” NYRA President and CEO
Friday, August 27, the day before the Travers Stakes, NYRA will name a race “The Vic Ziegel Memorial.”
Roberta, his wife of 34 years, Katy, their daughter, and Shelly Goldfeder, his sister, will present the trophy in the winner’s circle following the race.
Ziegel, who twice received Red Smith Writing Awards for his Kentucky Derby coverage, also focused on baseball and boxing.
His 2004 book, “Summer in the City: New York Baseball 1947-1957,” chronicled the years when the Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers, and New York Giants dominated baseball.
Ziegel also received the 1983 Nat Fleischer Award for excellence in boxing journalism from the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Despite his failing health, Ziegel still made it to the press box for this year’s Belmont Stakes. His sharp humor was on full display, as he wrote, “Drosselmeyer’s winning time was 2:31.57. Secretariat, who won his
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