When
Freehold opens on Thursday, January 3, 2013 for the first of 110 dates,
Abbatiello will be back to defend that title.
The
44-year-old Abbatiello finished with 126 wins to 111 for Cat Manzi in second
place.
“This
is my second driving title at Freehold,” the East Windsor, NJ resident
noted. “I race primarily at Freehold throughout the year. It is
special to win another title because it is my home track. I grew up
nearby in Colts Neck, NJ.
“To
win the driving title and train a stable of horses that were very competitive
at Freehold made it that much better,” he added.
Abbatiello’s
stable accounted for 11 wins in 48 starts. But he was the busiest driver
at Freehold in 2012 with 763 drives. Along with 126 wins, he had 113
seconds and 118 thirds at Freehold. His purse earnings reached $564,549
toward an overall total of $993,626.
His
career records now top 1,200 victories and $8.8 million in earnings as a driver
and 300 wins and $4.1 million as a trainer.
Abbatiello,
who received a degree in philosophy and business from Catholic University,
switched from stockbroker and financial planner to harness horseman in
1999. But that was no surprise given his roots. His father,
Carmine, and uncle, Anthony, are both Hall of Fame horsemen.
“My
expectations are to try to win the title again, stay healthy, try to help New
Jersey racing prosper the best I can,” he said.
Freehold,
with first race post time of 12:30 p.m., offers a three-day a week schedule
[Thursday through Saturday] from January 3 through May 18 and August 29 through
December 14] plus three holiday Mondays [January 21, February 18 and September
2].
-Submitted
by Carol Hodes for SBOANJ
