The Series kicks off at Monticello on February
21 and continues on Thursday March 7 at Yonkers Raceway. Then a trip back to
the Mighty M on Thursday, March 14 will be followed by the first Freehold
Raceway leg on Saturday, March 23.
Over the duration of the charity series three legs
will be contested at Monticello Raceway on the Thursdays of February 21; March
7 and April 25. Yonkers Raceway will host also three preliminary legs to
be raced on the Thursdays of March 7; April 4 and April 18.
However, Freehold Raceway will host four preliminary
legs which will be raced on the Saturdays of March 23; April 13; May 4
and May 11 and each will offer a $5,000 purse.
Preliminary legs at Monticello Raceway will be raced
for $4000 purses while the Yonkers prelims will go for $6000 each. A
$5000 purse is offered for the Consolation at the Mighty M on May 22 and the
Final at Yonkers will raced on Thursday, May 23 for a purse of $14,000.
Since it’s being sponsored by NAADA only amateur
drivers will be allowed to compete in the series. Competing reinsmen will earn
points--by the European Point System-- depending upon their finishes in each
contest and at series-end those tops in points will earn a berth in the Final.
The next tier in points will be eligible to race in the Consolation.
“Drivers must conduct themselves in a proper
gentlemanly manner and consider that we are being afforded a place to race for
purse money and are guests of the racetracks,” said Joe Faraldo, president of
NAADA. “A driver must have started at least four times in the series to be
eligible for preference to race in the final and all participants are
urged to enter the final regardless of the number of starts they may have had
in the series.”
Horses to be driven in the NAADA Charity Series
basically must be non-winners of $7,001 in their last six starts and must have
earned less than $1801 per start in 2012/13 although there are other special
conditions for the horses in the series. Also eligible are trotters entered
with a $15,000 claiming tag.
A $50 starting fee will be imposed for drivers
competing in the preliminary races while those in the Consolation will pay $75
to start. A $100 fee is due from drivers who will compete in the Final.
The series is open to paid-up members of the North
American Amateur Drivers Association. The membership cost to join in NAADA is
$150 and anyone who is not a member of NAADA will not be able to drive in this
charity trotting series.
“As a result of the cooperation of the
racetrack managements at Yonkers, Monticello and Freehold we will once again
get the opportunity to have amateurs compete at those venues and use the money
generated from the participants to help a worthwhile charitable cause,” Faraldo
added.
“Last year these events raised $12,000 for the
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. NADDA is pleased to foster the goals of amateur
racing and support worthwhile charities in the process.”
For further information, or to become a member of
NAADA, applicants are urged to contact Joe Faraldo C/o NAADA, 125-10
Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY 11415. Or call him at 718-544-6800.
