John Calabrese has been chosen the U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA) Amateur Driver of the Year for 2023 in a vote conducted by USHWA with the amateur driving clubs.

Calabrese, 64, was the overwhelming selection to receive the award and was initially speechless when informed of being chosen.

“I guess it’s the call you want to get at the end of the year,” Calabrese said with a laugh as the news started to sink in. “I want to thank USHWA and all the clubs that voted for me. It’s quite an honour.”

Calabrese will be feted at the Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. 

A perk afforded the winner of the USHWA Amateur Driver of the Year is the honour of being the U.S. representative at the World Championship for Amateur Drivers (World Cup), which will be held in Finland in 2024. 

Joe Faraldo, president of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA), explained why he thought Calabrese was a good choice to be Amateur Driver of the Year.

“His UDRS, driving horses he never sat behind before, driving on the lead and from behind, all around good horseman, and very good all-around driver, period,” said Faraldo. “He will make a good rep at the upcoming World Cup.”

Calabrese was on fire in 2023 and was able to prove it all night, every time he raced, winning multiple times at five different tracks. 

He was ultra-consistent, hitting the board in 48 per cent of his drives. For comparison, in 2023, Dexter Dunn hit the board 46 per cent of the time.

Growing up in the great state of New Jersey, Calabrese may have thought that attending opening night at The Meadowlands at just 16 years old marked his glory days, but now knows that these are better days since he’s on the other side of the fence and can not only race, but win at the mecca of harness racing. 

Calabrese succeeded at a solid 17 per cent clip this year and made his presence felt on both sides of the river, winning 23 per cent of his starts at Freehold (New Jersey) and 40 per cent of his drives at Yonkers (New York), including the NAADA Spring Series final. 

In addition to driving, Calabrese trains a small stable of horses and has been an owner for over 30 years.

Room reservations at Rosen Centre for the star-studded Dan Patch Awards weekend can be made at the USHWA website. Sponsorship opportunities for the event can be procured from sponsorship chairman Shawn Wiles at [email protected]. Advertisements in the souvenir journal can be arranged with journal chairman Kim Rinker at [email protected]. Tickets for the banquet can be procured from ticket chairman Judy Davis-Wilson at [email protected] or Liz Cheesman at Elizabeth.Cheesman@winbakfarm.com.

(U.S. Harness Writers Association)