They're in it for the love of the game and for charity, and the Florida Amateur Driving Club came through again for one of their favourite causes on Tuesday, December 21
at Pompano Park.
"This local organization, the Horse Gate Equestrian Center, meets our self-imposed mandates of matching up children and young adults in need with horses while giving them a positive first impression to harness racing and it's people," explained Leon Cable of the FADC. "The amateur drivers give up their per cent commission of purse money earned for the charities we choose. You take a race like tonight, the purse was $3,500 so our drivers collectively earned $175 to donate. When we gather enough money, we can help a charity perhaps three or four times per year."
Cable then presented a cheque for $1,000 from the FADC to Glenna Waggoner of the Horse Gate Equestrian Center.
"The centre was formed just a few years ago and already we've helped hundreds of at-risk children, young adults and horses," Waggoner explained. "We are very grateful to the FADC for helping us to raise awareness about what we're doing just as much as we are thankful to them for the financial donation. The FADC is an organization of people that love their breed of horses and this reflects their true spirit of charity during the holiday season."
In the Tuesday evening race for the FADC, driver and owner Troy Basista of Myakka City, Florida was a front-end winner in 2:00 with four-year-old gelded trotter Rustico Dance Hall. After a pocket trip, Blacksnake Blake (driven by Jamie Marra) was a close runner-up and Famous Hall with John Matteo in the bike finished third.
Pellegrino and Ranger Dominate Mares Events
The Tuesday evening feature in South Florida was the $12,500 fillies and mares winners-over $10,000 lifetime handicap. It started a two-race run of domination for trainer Peter Pellegrino and driver Bruce Ranger, as Im Just Special scored in 1:52.2. The Camluck--Ladys Special Girl mare brushed to the front in the second quarter and put away the final-half first-over challenge of 1-5 favourite Esmeralda Semalu. C R Hope rushed up for second and she returned $104 to Place, one of the highest place payouts in the 47-year history of Pompano Park.
The very next race, Pellegrino and Ranger teamed up again for an impressive 1:52.1 life's mark score by Best Around. The four-year-old Cambest--Rondeau Hanover miss was racing with a $14,500 claiming tag and shaved four seconds off her lifetime speed badge. She handily out-stepped Chapsboots N Spurs (Wally Hennessey) and Cape Cove Daisy (Gaston Lareau).
Live programs before Christmas are coming up on Wednesday and Thursday at 7:05 p.m. There is no live racing on Saturday, December 25, and the track will return to its regular schedule next Monday.
(Pompano)