“ Last June 12th--on All Amateur Day here-- I won
three races in five drives but today I was three for three,” ”Schwartz said
after being asked if this was the first time he had three winners on a card.
“But what was most satisfying about today’s three wins was that they were all
against professional drivers.”
Schwartz won the third race with Space Chalet in
1:59.1 for owner Tom Speron and then copped the fourth with his own
Iroquoindianfellow in a time of 1:59.2. Win number three came with El
Hombre Dan in 2:03.2 . That trotter is owned by Raheim Strong who
is the trainer of record of the nine- horse Alan Schwartz Stable and
close friend of Schwartz’s.
“Raheim is diligent, knowledgeable and an excellent
horseman and I’m glad to have him on my team,”, Schwartz said about
Strong.
Needless to say that Schwartz is proud of what he has
accomplished in his amateur career but he is especially pleased with
things this season. He’s very proud of his amateur status and he plans on
keeping that moniker.
“Why wouldn’t I want to continue as an amateur driver? I
love the times when I go overseas to represent the American amateur
movement in international races and driving competitions at
various racetracks in a variety of countries in Europe as well as in
Canada and Down Under. And I enjoy the friendships I make in amateur racing.,”
Schwartz said explaining his desire to keep his amateur status.
Most of Schwartz’s 465 lifetime driving victories have
come against professional drivers although a decade or so ago he was the
scourge of the Billings Amateur Driving Series.
Last year was the most prolific for the amateur driver when
he posted 43 driving victories with the overwhelming majority
against professionals.
However, this season Schwartz is looking for better things .
Currently with 22 wins already in the books and a .401 UDR he’s halfway
home and it’s just early April.
