Ralph Silvestri III has become a major force in the owner/driver/trainer ranks at Cal-Expo at the ripe age of 21, and his biggest fans are his father, Ralph, Jr., and prominent owner KC Carvalho, who has 14 horses in his care.
“I’ve been in the sport for over a decade now,” said Ralph, Jr. “I’ve owned or managed over 500 horses during that time, and it was on the half-mile track on my farm in New York that my son learned to drive harness horses.
“Ralph used to come with me to Yonkers and he would see how young Yannick Gingras was doing on my horses, and that’s where he got the idea that he could do it. I told him it took more than just saying it; it was long days and long nights. It can be up to 20 hours a day, seven days a week.
“I told him if the love for the horses isn’t in your heart, that he should find something else to do, because you don’t become a harness person without it. After this last year, I can honestly say Ralph has it in his heart, and if you talk to him, you would never know that he’s just 21 years old.”
Ralph III recorded his first victory 11 months ago with My Trying Ryan, and now has 63 wins, 60 places and 60 show finishes from his 533 drives, with 146 tallies from 890 starts as a trainer.
“I’ve tried to teach him several things, including not believing in blame or excuses, just to work harder,” Ralph, Jr. explained. “I can honestly say that my dreams have come true having him in harness racing and I am very proud. He’s come a long way and hopes to improve in all areas.”
Among his ever-growing stable are 14 horses carrying the banner of owner and part-time announcer KC Carvalho.
“I first met 'Big Ralph' after he claimed two of my horses last year and we talked horses for about an hour,” Carvalho related.
“He told me he was at Cal-Expo for his son to gain experience and asked if I would put Ralph III on any of my horses. Big Ralph was persistent and I finally let him drive Phipps, a trotter who had made breaks in his previous three races. In April, Ralph drove him to victory and then came right back and won the following week. If harness racing is going to survive, I think we have to give younger drivers, trainers and owners the opportunity.”
Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Thursday, February 24 and will continue through Saturday, February 26. First-race post time on Thursday is 5:30 p.m. (PST). First-race post time on Friday, February 25 and Saturday, February 26 is at 6:00 p.m.
On Saturdays, Cal-Expo offers a reduced 15 per cent takeout rate on both the Early and Late Pick-4 wagers, with both Pick-4s having a $10,000 gross guaranteed pool.
(Cal-Expo)