For the first time ever in the United States, there will be a full day of harness racing exclusively for amateur drivers when Monticello Raceway hosts a full card of races to be driven by recreational sportsmen on the afternoon of

Sunday, June 12.

Although not uncommon in other countries, each of the pari-mutuel races on that afternoon card will feature some of the best and most experienced amateur drivers in North America.

The event will be sponsored by the North American Amateur Drivers Association, the Edward Weiner and Edward Yarock Equine Scholarship Fund, and the Donald Meyer Equine Scholarship Fund. The day will be utilized to raise scholarship money for the children of harness horsemen.

Joe Faraldo, Alan Schwartz and Dave Yarock are spearheading the project.

Yarock, a businessman and avid amateur reinsman, has been holding fundraiser events for the scholarships since 2008.

“The monies we accrue will provide scholarships to individuals pursuing higher education related to the harness racing industry,” Yarock noted. “The funds will also provide assistances for any individual in the harness racing community, their children and or family members, in their pursuit of a higher education.”

Schwartz, who is the current president of the Monticello Harness Horsemen’s Association, is a former amateur driver of the year. Faraldo is the president of NAADA.

“Currently, details are still in the process of being finalized on what everyone hopes will be an annual affair,” Schwartz said. “When we get it all together we think this could be a magnificent day for the harness racing industry.”

(With files from NAADA)