The harness racing worlds of New Jersey and Maryland will collide next week, when Freehold Raceway and Rosecroft Raceway play hosts to the Rosecroft-Freehold driving challenge.
The challenge pits four drivers based at Freehold and four drivers based at Rosecroft. Johnathan Ahle, Vinny Ginsburg, Eric Abbatiello, and Tyler Miller will represent Freehold, while Eric Davis, Russell Foster, Trae Porter, and Declan Donoway comprise the Rosecroft contingent.
The series consists of four races at Rosecroft on Thursday, Dec. 15 and four races at Freehold on Saturday, Dec. 17. The drivers in each series race will be drawn by lot.
The point system is as follows: 50 points for first, 25 for second, 12 for third, eight for fourth, five for fifth, four for sixth, three for seventh, and one for eighth. A scratched horse will receive eight pts. The driver with the highest point total at the end of the eight-race series will receive $1,000, with second place receiving $600, third place netting $400, and fourth through eighth earning $250 a piece.
In addition to the pari-mutuel activities, the drivers will participate in a series of other competitions, including a bicycle race, a bouncy reindeer race, and an antler ring toss. The bicycles used for the events will be donated to local charities.
First post time at Rosecroft on Thursday will be 7:15 p.m., while the first race at Freehold on Saturday will be 12:30 p.m.
(Freehold Raceway)