by john manzi, with
Joe Lee, for NAADA
Once again be reminded that
international amateur driving challenges are grand vehicles for human relations
as witnessed by the recently completed competition between the North American
Amateur Drivers Association and the New Zealand amateurs. When it was over the
final score was the least important aspect. The friendships shared were
paramount.
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Lee began his synopsis on
the off day of December 9 by stating, “Peter Kleinhans got to call the fourth race
at Adlington Racecourse in New Zealand. Since the thoroughbreds have a strong
group of announcers from Down Under calling races in the US, Peter may be one
of very few who turned the tables around and called a harness race on New
Zealand soil.
Lee then continued;
“The hosts here in New Zealand have kept us quite busy. They had so
many wonderful things planned for us each day. Sometimes upwards of 13
hours a day. It has been a great experience and truly will be hard to top
should the New Zealand amateurs ever come to the states for some driving.
“On Saturday we opened the
card at Addington Raceway. Twelve horses went to the post; nine across and
three in the second tier. Peter Kleinhans, driving Earthbound, left from
the eight-hole and while crossing over to be third on the first turn the pacer
uncharacteristically made a break and Peter had to take the horse to the inside
and off the course.
“Meanwhile, I left out of
the 12 post and got away eighth with Jema Jet and then moved to be in the
two-wide flow for the first lap of the mile and 5/8th race. After the first lap
I pulled Jema Jet to the outside and began the three- wide line of horses
and paced up toward the leaders with a lap to go.
“Gerry Fielding had a tough
task driving Red Under Fire from the outside post. He got away last and had a
rail trip for the two lap distance and over on in the stretch to be 7th.
Dave Offenberg was driving a Bettors Delight gelding, Better Backim and they
got a way toward the back of the pack.
“There was quite a bit of
pace up front and with me and others pressing. Dave was able to launch his
horse with a huge move from the back of the pack the last half of a mile and
paced forward the entire lengthy Addington homestretch to finish third, just a nose
off second losing the entire race by 2.5 lengths.
“Sunday's racing took us to
Motukarara Raceway which is a mile and an eighth racetrack for grass racing.
The amateur clan was in the second race on the all grass card.
“The race was contested at a
mile and a quarter this time. Dave Offenberg had a tough go here with an
unruly and nervous horse who was making his first start in over a year.
“I floated away from the
five-hole leaving him and moved to be first-over with the leader down the long
green backstretch.
“I was driving an in-foal
mare named Stylish Babe, who Peter Kleinhans drove Thursday. She was making her
last career start and I took her up to the leader until the top of the stretch
where she tired and we finished back in the field.
“Gerry Fielding was driving
(the host) Gavin Cook's, Red Maro, who I drove Thursday night and was racing on
short rest. We got away toward the back of the pack and made a big move on the
last turn and even took the lead into the stretch before tiring in the
extremely long turf stretch.
“Peter Kleinhans drove The
Edge of Reason. He had the rail and got away third on the inside.. As the flow
developed and got three lines deep, Peter’s horse got shuffled and didn't make
enough headway in the lane to gain on any of the leaders.
“Unfortunately the
Americans, who all had their first experience on the grass, finished 10th 11th
12th and 13th for a reverse superfecta. Everyone had a great experience driving
on the grass. It certainly is a different type of racing.
“We were partnered up with
four other New Zealand drivers since we were a team of four and they had more
representatives. When all was said and done, the hometown Kiwi's took the
competition and won the bragging rights. But who really cared?
