Dogwood Dominion Award Nominees Accepted

Nominations for the 14th annual Dogwood Dominion Award, honoring an outstanding member of the Thoroughbred racing industry, are now being accepted.

This year's winner will be honored at a luncheon Aug. 2 at the Saratoga Reading Rooms and will receive a $5,000 check and a bronze statue of Dominion. Judges for this award are Anne Campbell, Penny Chenery, and Jay Hovdey.

The award was inspired by the multiple stakes winner Dominion, who was campaigned by Dogwood Stable in the 1970s and went on to become a five-time champion sire in England. Upon Dominion's death in 1993, Dogwood president Cot Campbell created the award to recognize the industry's unsung heroes -- the behind-the-scenes men and women who work to create a positive influence in their work environment.

Previous winners are H.W. "Salty" Roberts, Howard "Gelo" Hall, Peggy Sprinkles, Grace Belcuore, Nick Caras, Donald "Peanut Butter" Brown, Danny Perlsweig, Katherine Todd Smith, Julian "Buck" Wheat, Jim Greene and Shirley Edwards, Neftali Gutierrez, Pam Berg, and Jo Anne Normile.

"We've awarded $65,000 over the years, and our idea has spawned several other similar awards," said Campbell. "Our winners have come from Massachusetts and Florida, Michigan and California, and points in-between."

Nominations should be received no later than June 19 and be mailed or faxed to: Mary Jane Howell, Dogwood Stable, P.O. Box 1549, Aiken, SC 29802. Fax: 803.642.2747. An electronic nomination form can be found at www.dogwoodstable.com.