Gulotta is USHWA's Good Guy

Mike Gulotta, a noted horseman and philanthropist who is becoming the face of New Jersey racing as the sole “equine” member of new New Jersey governor Chris Christie’s transition team, has been elected the winner of the W.R. Haughton Good Guy Award as voted by active members of the U.S. Harness Writers Association.

 

Gulotta is among the partners operating the state-of-the-art Deo Volente Farm in the Garden State, and his sponsored tours of the facility for children have helped expose a number of young faces to the exciting harness racing scene.

 

When one of Gulotta’s top horses, such as the iron-tough free-for-all Lis Mara, racks up a big check against top company, Gulotta makes sure (quietly) that a portion of those racetrack earnings go to a charitable enterprise. And when a Lis Mara appears in the winners circle, Mike is frequently right there, giving valuable insight and commentary to the gathered media.

 

Gulotta’s most challenging task is probably facing him right now, as he must represent the equine industry as a new New Jersey governor sets up shop in very difficult economic times. Gulotta is well-versed in the horsemen’s side of controversial topics, such as the slot machine standoff between Atlantic City and the state’s racetracks, and he speaks eloquently of a point often missed – the vast boost that the entire equine industry, through direct and indirect means, gives to the economy of New Jersey, which like most states presently needs all the help it can get. It’s safe to say that Mike Gulotta will be a fine “point man” to make racing’s voice heard loud and clear during this transition in New Jersey.

 

Gulotta will be honored at the annual harness writers’ awards banquet, to be held Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010 at Yonkers Raceway. (USHWA)