The North American Amateur Drivers Association will conduct a Monticello, Freehold, and Yonkers Raceway three-track trotting series beginning on February 21.

The series will continue through the middle of the month of May culminating in a consolation on May 22 and a final on May 23.

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 $4,000 purses while the Yonkers prelims will go for $6,000 each. A $5,000 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 $1,801 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.

(NAADA)