Teague to drive in Dr. MLK

He has gained national acclaim with his training process and now George Teague Jr. will jump up on the driver's seat and compete at Monticello Raceway next week in a special race which features the talents of African-American harness drivers. The Dr. Martin Luther King Pace is slated for Friday, Jan. 12.

Teague, who has developed such champions as Rainbow Blue, Isabella Blue Chip, Western Ace, Total Truth and Future Destiny, will take time out from his busy schedule to travel to the Mighty M for the event.

“For years Monticello Raceway has been paying respect to the memory of Dr. King with a race in his honor and though I wanted to participate in the past I never was able to find the time,” Teague said after being contacted by the track's publicity department. “But this year I can make it and I’m looking forward to driving. Win or lose, it sounds like it’ll be a lot of fun.”

Teague, who counts former Heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman among his patrons, is currently conditioning 70 head in Delaware. Last year Teague-trained horses won 101 races and amassed purses in excess of $3,121,000, and you can add in the $1.265 million in purses won by trainees of Teague's sister, Brenda.

Though Teague did not compete in any pari-mutuel events during the 2006 campaign, if one would take the time to listen they’d hear how he drove 18 winners in the qualifying races.

“Hey, it’s easy to win when you drive the likes of Western Ace, Total Truth and Future Destiny in qualifying races,” Teague joked. “I was just tuning them up for the sports top catch-drivers who handle the driving chores when we go for the dough.”

Currently Eric Warner, the track's director of racing, said he’s heard from four or five other African American drivers who are interested in competing in the Dr. MLK Pace.

“I’ve have been contacted by James O’Farrow, Alan Johnson, Dennis Watson, George Polk Jr. along with a few of our local fellows whom have expressed interest in driving in the race,” Warner said. “But we need at least eight drivers to fill the event.”

Warner is still seeking drivers of African-American heritage who are interested in competing in the sixth edition of the Dr. King Pace. He can be reached by calling (845) 794-4100 ext. 557; or ask for the raceway’s publicity office at ext. 455. (w/files from Monticello)

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