After two days on the beach under wispy clouds and 90-degree (Fahrenheit) heat, the United States' amateur driving team scooted off to the Padovanella Hippodromo in Padova, Italy, for the first leg of their friendship competition against a team of Italian amateurs on Wednesday (July 3).
There, U.S. team members Joe Faraldo and Alan Schwartz duked it out down the lane of the historic half-mile track. When the dust and shouting was over, Faraldo emerged victorious. For Faraldo, it was a return to the place where he got his first pari-mutuel win many years ago. Schwartz took the place dough and the Americans were on top.
In the next event, Schwartz dropped his long shot into the two-hole and, though shuffled back a bit, emerged at the top of the lane to garner yet another second-place finish. As a result, the U.S. team had 64 points to Italy’s 40.
The Italians have four more races to close the gap and try to surge a comeback, which they are very capable of doing. The cherry on top of the cake for Team USA was seeing dear friend Maurizio Biasuzzi and his lovely wife Marinella, and competing and chatting with the former world champion amateur driver who has nearly 1,000 wins.
The competition moves on to Montecatini on Thursday (July 4), then Cesena on Friday (July 5).
(NAADA)