The fields are set for the upcoming Italian American Friendship Races. The three-track series will kick off on Wednesday (August 17) at Monticello Raceway with two divisions set to head to post in Race 2 and Race 5 on the 10-dash betting card.
The competition will then move on to Yonkers Raceway for the second leg, which has been carded as Race 2 on the Thursday (August 18) betting card; and the competition will conclude on Friday (August 19) at Tioga Downs with events in the second and fourth races, also of which are on the wagering program.
As previously announced, the veteran Italian team of Roberto Michelotto, Giancarlo Moretti, Raffaello Ruffato, and Otello Zorzetto will be constant and the visitors will drive in the races at all three tracks.
But for the American home team a different driving foursome will be in action at each venue.
At Monticello, Bob Hechkoff, Bobby Krivelin, Peter Kleinhans and Dave Offenberg will carry the fortunes for the American team there. Then at Yonkers Raceway, the American team will consist of Hannah Miler, Joe Faraldo, Tony Verruso and Tony Ciufettelli. Anchoring the Americans at Tioga Downs will be Alan Schwartz, Gerry Fielding, Matt Zuccarello and Joe Lee.
Guests of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) the visiting Italians arrived on Monday, August 15, and will be chauffeured throughout the week by members of NAADA. Besides the driving rivalries, the Italian guests will be lodged at different hotels along the journey and treated to dinners each night, much of which was arranged by NAADA event planner Alicia Schwartz.
Along the way will be sojourns to Historic Track, the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, Blue Chip Farm, the Mark Ford Training Center, as well as excursion to Bethel Woods, the site of the original and world famous Woodstock Festival of 1969.
“I truly believe that our Italian guests will enjoy what we have planned for them,” said NAADA President Joe Faraldo. “And win, lose or draw, our NAADA members will also have an enjoyable time, but the our enjoyment would certainly be kicked up a notch if we happen to come out on the winning end.”
(NAADA)