It has been announced that Pompano Park and the Florida Amateur Drivers Club will be hosting an international drivers contest from March 12-13.
Ten countries and representing drivers plan to participate in the two-night racing endeavour. The FADC has been active at Pompano for many years, and, through the donations of its members’ driving fees, has contributed over $150,000 to local charities.
The FADC’s efforts bring positive attention to harness racing and support worthwhile charitable organizations. Real estate executive Dein Spriggs, from Jupiter, Florida, heads the FADC and has spearheaded the upcoming international races, while also posting 412 lifetime victories and 2005-2006 Billings Gold Cup wins. Spriggs’ best years were 1978-1979 when he posted a combined 121 wins.
Through the efforts of FADC, Pompano Park and FEGAT (Federation of European Amateur Trotting Drivers), 10 participants are on their way to south Florida.
The list of the international amateur driving participants appears below.
Austria – Johann Preining Jr.
Finland – Tapio Hoikka
Germany – Michael Gutsche
Hungary – Andrea Fazekas
Italy – Enrico Columbo
New Zealand – Paul Daniel Blakemore
Norway – Nils Holm
Russia – Ivan Serik
Spain – Jaume Bassa (Riera)
USA – Dein Spriggs
Founded in 1954 FEGAT by six nations, the current country membership numbers 15. The organization conducts annual championships for its gentlemen and women drivers and a world championship weekend.
In 2016 the women will battle in Finland from June 29-July 2; the world championship will be September 2-3 at Budapest and the men will compete September 16-19 at Wolvega and Alkmaer, Belgium. Agusti Mascaro Pou of Spain is FEGAT’s executive secretary and Claes L. Ljung is its president.
One interesting amateur driver on-hand this weekend is Hungary’s Andrea Fazekas.
With 136 career victories, Fazekas regularly drives in both amateur and open races at Kincsem Park (Budapest) and often is at the lines of trainer/driver Imre Fazekas’ stable star, Ollyan Nincs (by the US-bred Pickaflick), a former winner of the Hungaria DIJ (greatest international race at Kincsem Park) and a host of other aged classic races. Fazekas’ parents are also very accomplished drivers/trainers of trotters.
Andrea’s husband, Gyorgy Horvath, is a professional driver that teamed Chevallier SR to a third-place finish in last Saturday’s classic Tavaszi Handicap.
Of particular note is Andrea’s expertise as a videographer and film producer for her country’s trotting association and the racetrack Kincsem Park.
Her fine professional work highlights the trotting sport and adaptability of Standardbreds for show, recreation, education and children’s therapy. Fazekas’ work is regularly shown on the 24-hour racing channel of Kincsem Park and through the Equidia Pro network.
Come to Pompano this weekend to watch many of the world’s best amateur drivers compete and hear legendary Hall of Famer Roger Huston call the action.
(With files from the FADC)