For the second consecutive year the Mighty M has presented a
total race card with horses driven by just amateur drivers. Of course the track
didn’t so it alone. They had the undivided support of the local horsemen and
the 18 participating outstanding amateur drivers.
“It was a win-win situation for everyone; the Monticello
Harness Horsemen’s Association, the raceway and the amateur movement,” noted
Joe Faraldo, who along with Bob Kriveklin and Alan Schwartz spearheaded
the day, which, by the way, was added so Monticello Raceway could
be part of the national harness racing ‘Back To The Track’ promotion. And
by all means it was a resounding success.
For a date that was not congruous to the tracks
monthly racing schedule, the added 12 race betting program still produced
over $417,000 in wagers and that number was up considerably over last season’s
$220,000 which was wagered on the inaugural all- amateur program.
Bolstered by two divisions of ‘the Grand Circuit of Amateur
Racing’ --the Billings Harness Driving Championship Series—18 competing
amateurs ponied up $1000 which secured each at least four drives on the
racing program.
And history was made that afternoon when Alan Schwartz
guided a 6 year old Cams Card Shark pacing gelding, Court Jester to a
1:55.1 triumph which is a new world’s record for a horse driven by amateur
driver on a half mile track.
“I wasn’t much more than a passenger,” a smiling Schwartz
said after his driving victory with Court Jester which was one of three for
outstanding amateur driver who doubles as president of the local harness
horsemen’s association.“It certainly was a as a thrill and the fastest
ride I’ve ever had on a half- miler.”
Trained by Pete Pellegrino, Schwartz’s victory behind
Court Jester was a laugher as the horse paced through fractional times of
:27; :55.2;-1:25 before finishing 31-lengths ahead of runner-up,
Pull The Tab driven by John Campagnuolo.
Billings series action—yes, named for the aforementioned CKG
Billings—saw Bob “the Rapid Rail” Krivelin score a second
series victory with Motown Dreamgirl and Peter “the past president” Gerry
get off the schneid and score his first seasonal driving triumph.
Krivelin used the front-end route to turn back
Tremendous Hit, driven by Bob “the Headhunter Hechkoff . Gerry, on the other
hand, sat a two-hole journey and rallied in the deep stretch to collar
pace-setter Kris’s Legacy and driver Dave “Steady As” Yarock for a head
victory. Krivelin and Motown Dreamgirl stopped the timer in 2:01.3 while Gerry
and Drill Sergeant Sam were victorious in a 2:01.2 clocking.
As aforementioned Schwartz had three winners on the 12-race
program while Krivelin and Gerry had one each. Other amateurs who were
victorious included; Scott Woogen, Vladimir Melnichenko; Dave
Offenberg, Gerry Fielding, John Campagnuolo and Joe Pennacchio.
“At day’s end the all the competitors broke break at a local
restaurant and from the funds raised by the competing amateurs $12,000 was
added to the Monticello Raceway purse account and we will also make a generous
contribution to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation,” Faraldo noted, and then added:
“It was a great day for amateur racing. We’ve come a long way.”
