Foreman named Good Guy

George Foreman, former boxing champion now smitten with harness racing, has won the WR Haughton Memorial Good Guy Award, while Mary Lou Dondarski, a tireless worker in the offices of the Breeders Crown / Hambletonian Society and a skilled craftswoman of harness racing memorabilia, has won the LeeAnne Pooler Memorial Unsung Hero Award. The awards were given by the U.S. Harness Writers Association.

Foreman, 57, is of course well-known as an Olympic and professional boxing champion, and for his George Foreman grills and motivational speaking engagements. But Foreman also loves harness racing – surfing the TV satellites one night, Foreman, a longtime horse enthusiast, saw harness racing and decided to get into the game.

Foreman teamed up with top trainer George Teague Jr. and now has 18 horses, including the $230,000+-winning Future Destiny. The former athlete’s empathy for the human and equine athletes of harness racing, and the enthusiasm he has shown for the sport, has served harness racing well on many occasions, including as the presenter of this year’s Hambletonian trophy.

It is with the mundane, work-day happenings of the Hambletonian Society and Breeders Crown where Mary Lou Dondarski shines, keeping operations moving and on-track as the Office Manager. Dondarski, who has a long history of working with horses and tracks, also is an accomplished artisan, with her craft adorning many a wall or desk in harness racing offices, and often receiving a featured spot in the sport’s charity auctions, to which she gives generously. (USHWA)

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