by john manzi for NAADA
Amateur
racing seems to be proliferating and getting more respect this season and
now there are more opportunities for the sportsmen—and women— to drive more
often than in the past. Currently with North American Amateur Drivers
Association (NAADA), the Billings (and the GSY Series) not only do
opportunities abound but the amateurs bring their horses which helps the
participating tracks fill their racing programs.
Recently
NAADA hosted a contingent of French amateurs in an international Friendship
Competition and now on the heels of those events NAADA is readying three
different teams to race against a contingent of Spanish amateurs from Mallorca.
The
contest races are slated for Yonkers Raceway on Tuesday (June 2); at Monticello
Raceway on Wednesday (June 3), and at Tioga Downs on Friday (June 5).
Ready
to defend their Spanish honors at all three American tracks are Bernardo Cirer,
Jaume Riera, Augustin Pou and Miquel Capo while the NAADA teams will vary at
each venue.
The
fields for the Yonkers and Monticello legs have already been drawn. At the
Hilltop oval on Tuesday in race two, NAADA’s Peter Kleinhans has drawn the
morning line favorite while Spaniards Jaume Riera and Bernardo Cirer each have
co-second choices.
Kleinhans
will be joined that afternoon by NAADA compatriots, Joe Faraldo, Dave Offenberg
and Tony Verruso.
At
Monticello on Wednesday there will be two races. In the first event (race 3),
NAADA’s Alan Schwartz has the early line favorite) while Spain’s Miquel Capo
has drawn the morning line favorite in the second (race 5).
Both
events are for pacers, a gait which the Spanish drivers are not familiar with
since only trotters are raced in Europe.
Joining
Schwartz there and driving for the red-white and blue are Hannah Miller, Matt
Zuccarello, and Gerry Fielding.
Races
at Tioga Downs have not been drawn at press time.
According
to NAADA president Joe Faraldo he said his associate Alicia Schwartz, who
picked up the Spanish drivers at the airport, told him “they are young and fit
and we might have to be at the top of our game”, to which Faraldo replied; “
Winning or losing isn’t that important, Don't forget, amateur
racing is just a great excuse for human relations.”
