by john manzi for NAADA
Thursday, May 10, was amateur day at Monticello Raceway with
three amateur events on the racetrack's betting card. But more precisely
it turned out to be ' Alan Schwartz Day' when the talented amateur reinsman
drove two winners on the nine race card.
After he scored his 600th driving victory in the
ninth leg of the current NAADA Trotting Series he then added another triumph to
his resume when he won the second division of the NAADA v Spanish
Friendship Competition later on the card.
Schwartz, who doubles as the president of the of the Monticello
Harness Horsemen's Association, notched his milestone victory with his trotter
Ladys Big Stormont in a time of 1:59.3 and then copped the final contest in the
Friendship competition with pacer Rock On The Hill in the identical time of
1:59.3.
“I feel
real good today, but I'd feel lot better if we (NAADA) had won the
international competition against the Spaniards,” Schwartz said. “But it
seems we enjoy being accommodating when we host our international friends.”
After having won two races in the first leg of the Spain v.
NAADA Friendship Competition at Yonkers Raceway on Tuesday (May 8) the visiting
Spaniards, with another triumph today, walked away with most of the marbles.
The first race in the competition today saw Spain's Francisco
Ramos move his pacer, Hold The Gold, first-up and take command after the half and
then continue on to a length triumph over Pure Smoke, driven by NAADA's Tony
Ciuffetelli. Third place went to You're My Hero driven by Spain's Guillermo
Llull.
Senior Ramos expressed through teammate Jaime Riera, who is
fluent in English, that he was proud of his driving victory. Riera related that
Ramos said he will treasure his visit to the United States and always remember
his driving victory here.”
Schwartz won the second and final event in the Spain v NAADA
Friendship competition when he guided Rock On The Hill to a neck victory in
1:59.3 over Giddyallyougot, in rein to Spain's Francisco Ramus.
“He was
lazy so I scored him down hard. And when we were in the race I had to keep
after him the whole mile,” Schwartz related.
Although he has won multiple races on a single card Schwartz's
milestone 600th victory today was perhaps his most cherished. And he should
cherish it, after all, only one other amateur driver has reached the 600-win
plateau. (Walter “ Boots” Dunn is the all time leader with over 1240 wins).
Schwartz recalled his victory with Ladys Big Stormont.
"After heading to the pylons when the gate folded I moved first-up
approaching the half but my trotter struggled finally getting his head in front
of a game Someway Same Hall (USA's Tony Ciuffetelli) as the field neared the
finish wire.
“My horse
wasn't at the top of is game today but we got the job done,” Schwartz said
referring to Ladys Big Stormont. “And I'm glad we made it (600 wins) because I
was feeling undo pressure. It always seems to bring pressure when seeking a
milestone brings. I know it shouldn't, but it does.”
