Although John Calabrese
won a race for NAADA it was the Italians who walked away with the trophy
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John
Calabrese kept the ball rolling with a win at Cesena. For sure for the
affable John it was his first on the soil of his ancestors. this win,
coupled with his smile, brought him many female admirers,
especially when they somehow heard that he owned five racetracks in the
USA.
In
the next event though the Italians scored a 1-4 placing over a really slow half
pulled off by an Italian wall built up front mirroring those built in ancient
times. They could have waited no longer to spoil our fun but took the cruelest
path to deflate the American plans for a victory party. It did not matter
though because the Americans were treated so royally well that if they had been
beaten by 100 instead of by a mere six points.
Truthfully
the Americans were the big winners. With the care the Americans received
from their hosts and friends, Stefano, Rafaello, Roberto
Piergiovanni, and Daniele Ortello from amateur clubs from Venezia, Tuscano and
Emiglia Romano ( Cesena), we certainly came out on top.
Two more
days until home for the USA team and all the baggage will be jam packed and
brimming over with fond memories of the good times and our friends,
both old and new.
Coming
next on the NAADA schedule will be friends from Torino arriving on US
soiled in August. Their mission to compete and win some amateur races and see
the famed Hambletonian. As Danile Orsini said we need to keep ties between our
countries, as Italy and America have a lot in common, like between Phillip
Mazzei and Thomas Jefferson. We must keep the game going at home and with our
old Italian friends abroad.
Italian
horsemen have a great spirit in keeping the game going when you learn that
purse money is delayed by six or more months. Yet these dedicated people come
to Lexington and Harrisburg and they proudly displayed their Chapter Sevens,
Donato’s, Trixtons, and talked of the many others when displaying them.
The American industry, as well as the global industry owes these people
a lot.
Bona
note Bella Italia for now and benvenuti from USA to our guests coming
from Torino..
