Amateur racing seems to be proliferating and getting more respect this season and now there are more opportunities for the sportsmen —and women — to drive more often than in the past.
Currently with North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA), the Billings (and the GSY Series) not only do opportunities abound but the amateurs bring their horses which helps the participating tracks fill their racing programs.
Recently NAADA hosted a contingent of French amateurs in an international Friendship Competition and now on the heels of those events NAADA is readying three different teams to race against a contingent of Spanish amateurs from Mallorca.
The contest races are slated for Yonkers Raceway on Tuesday (June 2); at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday (June 3), and at Tioga Downs on Friday (June 5).
Ready to defend their Spanish honours at all three American tracks are Bernardo Cirer, Jaume Riera, Augustin Pou and Miquel Capo while the NAADA teams will vary at each venue.
The fields for the Yonkers and Monticello legs have already been drawn. At the Hilltop oval on Tuesday in race two, NAADA’s Peter Kleinhans has drawn the morning line favourite while Spaniards Jaume Riera and Bernardo Cirer each have co-second choices.
Kleinhans will be joined that afternoon by NAADA compatriots, Joe Faraldo, Dave Offenberg and Tony Verruso.
At Monticello on Wednesday there will be two races. In the first event (race 3), NAADA’s Alan Schwartz has the early line favourite) while Spain’s Miquel Capo has drawn the morning line favourite in the second (race 5).
Both events are for pacers, a gait which the Spanish drivers are not familiar with since only trotters are raced in Europe.
Joining Schwartz there and driving for the red-white and blue are Hannah Miller, Matt Zuccarello, and Gerry Fielding.
Races at Tioga Downs have not been drawn at press time.
According to NAADA president Joe Faraldo he said his associate Alicia Schwartz, who picked up the Spanish drivers at the airport, told him “they are young and fit and we might have to be at the top of our game”, to which Faraldo replied; “ Winning or losing isn’t that important, Don't forget, amateur racing is just a great excuse for human relations.”
(NAADA)