In what appears to be the first thoroughbred writing award for an alt-weekly writer, Seattle Weekly editor Mike Seely has been named as the recipient of the Washington State Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s Mark Kaufman Media Award:

The WTOBA’s de facto journalist-of-the-year award went to Seely for “enthusiastically profiling and promoting racing in Washington while skillfully portraying the power of the thoroughbred and the unique qualities of the people involved.” Seely’s horse-racing coverage in Seattle included his profile of Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, one of the few openly gay jockeys to have ever worked in the sport.