McFarland, WI — “The Sulky Queen of Waunakee” was the headline of a Wisconsin State Journal story written by Pete Walch and published on April 29, 1962. It was a story about a young lady who at the time was the youngest licensed female harness driver in the United States. It was also a story about a young lady who had a passion for horses and harness racing.

That lady, Jeanne Marquis, will take her rightful spot in the Wisconsin Harness Racing Hall of Fame on Saturday (Jan. 26) during the Wisconsin Harness Horse Association annual banquet. That same evening, Marquis will also be awarded with the James Laird Memorial Award for Excellence for her extraordinary year with two of her trotters in 2018.

The James Laird Memorial Award For Excellence is an award given to a Wisconsin horseperson for excellence in racing and is named in honor of past WHHA President and USTA Director James Laird.

Jeanne Marquis’ name is synonymous with trotters in Wisconsin. Those who train and race trotters have chased many “Mar” horses around the Wisconsin ovals. In 2018, Jeanne achieved success on two stages, one in Minnesota and the other in Illinois. Sibling trotters, Spirit O Mar and Mimi Marguerite, had successful racing seasons culminating in championship wins for each horse.

Mimi Marguerite, now four, is co-owned by Jeanne and Jay DeLong of Clinton, Wis. As a 3-year-old, Mimi Marguerite had 12 starts, with five wins and five seconds. She earned $40,441 and took a mark of 1:58.3 at Running Aces. On Sept. 15, 2018, Mimi Marguerite won the $35,000 Minnesota 3-year-old filly trot for trainer Justin Anfinson and driver James Yoder. Mimi Marguerite is by Braggart out of Marquis’ mare, Wymar’s Image.

Big brother Spirit O’Mar also had a successful racing season. In 19 starts last year as a 5-year-old, the gelding garnered five wins, a second, and three thirds, while bankrolling $41,708 and taking a mark of 1:56.2 at Hawthorne. Spirit O’Mar closed out his season on Sept, 22 by winning the $45,000 Plesac final at Hawthorne’s Night of Champions. Spirit O’Mar teamed up with trainer/driver Steve Searle for the win. What makes this win so special is that he was a 53-1 longshot, who powered through to win by 1-1/4 lengths. Spirit O’Mar is by Psychic Spirit and also out of Wymar’s Image.

The WHHA banquet is held annually at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Madison, Wis., and everyone is welcome to join. Dinner tickets are $22.50 per person and can be obtained by contacting Gabe Wand (608.574.5468 or gabewand@yahoo.com) or by mailing payment to WHHA Secretary Jeanne Marquis, 6651 Hyslop Rd. Dane, WI 53529.

Also, the WHHA has a room rate of $77 per night (hot breakfast buffet included) and you can book rooms by contacting the hotel directly at 608.665.1681.