Mary Lee-Butte – Executive Director of the Blue Grass Farms Chaplaincy, and a woman known for her passion for helping more than 1,500 Kentucky horse farm workers and their families each year – has been named the 2009 winner of the Dogwood Dominion Award, it was announced by Dogwood President W. Cothran “Cot” Campbell.

As the 17th recipient of the Dogwood Dominion Award, which annually honors one of racing’s “unsung heroes,” Mary received $5,000 and a bronze statue of Dominion at a luncheon at the Reading Rooms in Saratoga Springs, New York, on August 5. Mary was selected from over 30 nominations by judges Anne Campbell, Jay Hovdey and Todd Pletcher.

“In a state whose Thoroughbred industry is currently short on good news, the Blue Grass Farm Chaplaincy is a shining star – an extraordinary program which helps, on many different levels, the sometimes invisible farm employee,” said Campbell. “Mary is the epitome of what the Dogwood Dominion Award stands for. Growing up with a father who was a Standardbred trainer, she has always appreciated and understood the hard work and dedication it takes to make a living in our industry. Her background has given her a keen sense of what farm workers – and their families – need.”

For many years, Mary was virtually a full-time volunteer for the BGFC and became its executive director in 2007.  The small but mighty chaplaincy provides counseling, educational programs, health services and financial assistance to horse farm workers in several counties in Central Kentucky. The chaplaincy has an enrichment center at its Lexington office that boasts a computer lab, counseling services, classrooms where subjects such as English, farm safety and financial planning are offered. Mary is also the founder of the Chaplaincy’s Ladies Guild – the main fundraising arm of the BGFC. Through the Guild’s efforts there are such “fun” programs as Moms Night Out, children’s bowling and picnics in the park. Close to 400 children receive a Christmas they might not otherwise have had each year when the BGFC hosts the Festival of Christmas.

The Dogwood Dominion Award was inspired by the multiple stakes winner Dominion, who was campaigned by Dogwood in the 1970s and went on to become five-time Champion Sire in England. It was created upon his death in 1993 to recognize the unsung heroes in the racing industry. Former 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 “Junior” Gutierrez, Pam Berg, Jo Anne Normile, Pete Lizarzaburu, Phyllis Shetron, and Vincent Garibaldi.

Past honorees, friends and family of the 2009 winner, and various racing enthusiasts and industry leaders attended the Dogwood sponsored luncheon at Saratoga.