The Maryland Million Joe Kelly Unsung Hero Award is presented annually to individuals whose contributions and characteristics are extremely valuable, but generally go unrecognized. Two recipients have been selected to receive the award for 2026, who together have a combined 80-plus years of service in the industry.
Karen Keener, a full-time employee for 43 years with concessions at Maryland tracks, and Robert Coe, whose diverse career included more than 30 years with Baltimore Mounted Police Unit and as many years, both part time and now full time, at the Maryland State Fairgrounds and as part of the Fasig-Tipton sales crew in Timonium, will take home the awards presented by the Board of Directors of Maryland Million Ltd. that honor the memory of Joe Kelly, the first and only publicist for the Maryland Million who served in that role from the event's inception in 1985 until his death in 2012.
Keener, known fondly as "Pizza Karen," has dealt directly with customers on a daily basis during her tenure in F & B Concessions at Laurel and Pimlico. Nominated by Karin De Francis and Pamela Douglas, the Dundalk resident is described by Douglas as "the example of positivity, kindness and unselfishness." Writes De Francis: "The dedication Karen brings to her job daily, the selfless commitment she shows her team and colleagues, and in the kindness she delivers to everyone she interacts with, [she] helps shape the takeaway of fans and horsemen."
Douglas adds: "Karen never seeks attention, she is hard working and above all grateful for the racing industry. She is an exceptional person, and she doesn't even know how many hearts she has touched, her customers find comfort in seeing her smiling face and cackling laughter daily."
Coe has left an indelible mark during his career. He was nominated by Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sales Director Paget Bennett, who describes him as the person everyone turns to.
"Everyone knows Robert Coe. They may not know him by name, but they know him as the gentleman who will stop whatever he is doing to help anybody," Bennett explains. "He makes everyone's experience a good one if he can help with simple acts of kindness, whether it be finding them a closer parking spot, getting them an umbrella to avoid getting wet, or just being the kind voice who will direct them to where they are trying to go on the fairgrounds property."
The Essex-area resident was a young man when he joined other family members who worked at Merryland Farm under Betty Shea Miller. All these years later, Bennett notes: "He is always the first on the grounds and the last person to leave the job, as he wants to know that everything has been done and that nothing was left undone even if it wasn't on his 'to do' list." She describes him as a Fasig-Tipton stable crew mentor and says, "Everyone should take a page out of Robert Coe's book and be the helpful, conscientious and super kind person that he is."
The Joe Kelly Unsung Hero Awards are presented on Jim McKay Maryland Million Day, this year on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Laurel Park.
