Those who have had a good influence on the racing industry are the recipients of this award.
Ellen Charles, a longtime horsewoman and philanthropist who has bred or owned some of the most well-known and prosperous horses in Maryland in recent years, will be honoured on May 16 at the Alibi Breakfast at the historic Pimlico Race Course with a Special Award of Merit.
Those who have had a beneficial influence on the racing sector are bestowed with the Special Award of Merit. Jim McKay, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and trainers D. Wayne Lukas and King Leatherbury—both Hall of Famer—have all received recognition in the past.
Celebrate the Preakness and learn insightful and hilarious race predictions with reporters, owners, trainers, jockeys, horsemen, and fans at the fabled Alibi Breakfast, which started in the 1930s on the porch of the old Pimlico clubhouse.
Charles has a long history in the racing world. Her father, Merrall MacNeille, had numerous positions in the racing industry before serving as a steward at Maryland tracks for more than 20 years. Adelaide Close Riggs, her mother, was one of the leading supporters of the state's breeding and racing industries for about 70 years.
Charles bred filly has been racing since 2004 under the moniker Hillwood Stable, which honours her grandmother Marjorie Merriweather Post, a former General Foods owner and heiress to the Post cereal dynasty. Hello Beautiful, the 2021 Maryland state champion senior female horse, one of just seven horses in history to have won three Maryland Millions in total.
Some of Charles's best-owned equines are Grade 3 winner Bandbox, multiple stakes winner Phlash Phelps (champion turf, Maryland, 2015), Grade 3-winning millionaire Cordmaker (champion older male, Maryland, 2019), and current stable star Post Time (champion 2-year-old male, Maryland, 2022). In 2016, Charles was selected as the Owner of the Year by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA).
Charles presently serves on the MTHA's finance and aftercare committees and has previously sat on the organisation's board of directors. Charles helped accomplish her grandmother's aim of transforming her old house into a public museum renowned for its extensive collection of decorative arts while serving as president of the board of Hillwood house, Museum and Gardens in Washington, D.C. for 25 years.
Charles has bred and owned several dogs who have competed for Best in Show at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club dog show, in addition to horses.