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Front
Row - (L-R) Dave Yarock, George Munniksma, Phil
Winkler, Harry Landy.
Back Row - Rich Timmerman, Miguel Lopez, Karyn
Malinowski, Tony Piserchia, John Regina, Neil
Goldstein, Bob Hechkoff (Photo courtesy of Monica
Thors)
There
is no hotter trend in Harness Racing than Amateur
Driving. Amateur races are now being contested at
every major track in the country. The American Harness Drivers Club
is right at
the forefront of this growth. The AHDC conducts races at
Freehold Raceway and The Meadowlands.
An amateur driver is someone who has never accepted
compensation for driving a third party's horse. Some
amateurs are very experienced horsemen holding 'A'
licenses; others are true novices. Whether experienced or
not, everyone agrees - there is no greater rush than
having one thousand pounds of horsepower propelling you
along at 35 mph on two ten-speed wheels !!
Each year, the AHDC organizes two pacing series at
Freehold Raceway, consisting of five legs on Saturday
afternoons. Depending on the number of entries, a
leg will split to two divisions. At the end of the
series, the drivers move to the Meadowlands for a $5,000
final.
So, if you want to find out what all of the excitement is
about, complete our Membership Application, shine up yourboots, polish your helmet and
prepare for the time of your life.
MIGUEL LOPEZ AND SEAS IN ME
WIN THE 2010 SPRING PACING FINAL
MIGUEL LOPEZ AND SEAS IN
ME ACCEPT
THE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY FROM
CLUB PRESIDENT BERNIE BOLAND
THE 2010 SPRING PACING SERIES FINAL
THE MEADOWLANDS - PURSE $5,000
FRIDAY JUNE 4, 2010
Cherry Hill, NJ - While it may
have been belated for nearly a month, Lincoln
Park, NJ's Miguel Lopez threw
himself a quite a 71st
Birthday celebration. The veteran amateur
teamster unwrapped a birthday present he won’t soon
be returning in the form of a championship trophy
after he guided Seas In Me to
victory for trainer Joseph
Gallo in the American
Harness Drivers Club's
$5,000 2010 Spring Pacing Series Final on
Friday June 4 at The Meadowlands.
This event is the pinnacle of the Spring Pacing
Series and it features the top point-earning
drivers from four series legs recently
contested at Freehold Raceway.
Right off the bat, Lopez and the 7-year-old gelded son of
Island Fantasy were in the mood for a
party as they found themselves a
pocket trip behind Dr. Karyn
Malinowski, steering her own Hugme Christi.
Malinowski had fired out from post position six
to take the early lead, with Lopez following
from along the pylons. For three-quarters
of a mile, these two raced in tandem while challengers
such as John Regina and Trappers
Treat and AHDC newcomer William
D'Andrea with Roy Winterwood each took
their turn in a vain attempt try to clear from
the outside. However, Malinowski was having
none of it as she stubbornly urged Hugme
Christi to hold her ground.
As they were closing in on the three-quarter mark,
Malinowski and Hugme Christi were still in
charge and appeared ready to kick into another
gear for the drive to the wire. However,
Lopez beat them to the punch as he exploded out
of the pocket with Seas In Me and in a matter of
a just few quick pacing strides, they were
on even terms with the leaders. Tenafly, N.J.'s Dave Yarock, who had been
stealthily sitting in fourth with Benzorama A,
took advantage of Lopez's momentum to move
into scoring position.
Turning into the long Meadowlands homestretch, Malinowski
was desperately trying to regain her advantage,
but it was not to be. Lopez had Seas
In Me moving like a
champion and was pulling away from a
very brave Hugme Christi. At the same
time, Yarock was charging hard on the outside with
Benzorama while Neil Goldstein
had shaken loose from the pack and was
mounting a late bid with Sinbad. In
deep stretch, Lopez needed the wire as he continued to
urge his plucky partner to hold on for a few more
feet. Fortunately, Seas In Me gamely
obliged just as Yarock and Goldstein were
running out of racetrack. Lopez got to the wire, a
very short neck to the good to take a well-earned
championship victory. Time of the mile was clocked
in 1:57.3 after fractions of 28.2, 57.2 and 1:27.1.
Yarock and Benzorama finished second while
Goldstein and Sinbad took the show spot.
Dr. Malinowski and Hugme Christi hung on for
fourth. Rounding out the field were John
Regina and Trappers Treat, Eric
Taddeo with Admirals Chance, George Munniksma behind It
Fits and William D'Andrea
in his first AHDC final with Roy Winterwood.
The final marks the end of the 2010 Spring Pacing
Series. Keep up with all the news of the
American Harness Drivers Club by visiting our
official website at http://www.ahdcracing.com
RESULTS Seas In Me--- b g 7
Island Fantasy - Shebelievesinme - Albatross Owned by Rauni E. Fitzpatrick,
Stockton, NJ - Trained by Joseph Gallo. 28.2 - 1157.2 -- -
1:27.1- -- 1:57.3
2- DO YOU REALLY-
SCRATCHED VIDEO REPLAY MORE
INFO TO FOLLOW !!
DAVE YAROCK AND BENZORAMA A WIN TO CLOSE OUT THE SERIES;
NEXT UP - THE SPRING SERIES FINAL
DAVE YAROCK
THE 2010 SPRING PACING SERIES
LEG V
FREEHOLD RACEWAY
FRIDAY APRIL 30, 2010
Cherry Hill, NJ - Tenafly, New
Jersey’s David Yarock,
steering Benzorama A, easily overtook
pacesetters Brad Rathbone
and Do You Really to take home victory in the
fifth and final preliminary leg of the American Harness Drivers Club's
2010 Spring Pacing Series on Friday April 30 at
Freehold Raceway.
For Yarock, a Financial and Estate Planning specialist
for the Financial Access Network, it was his first
victory in three spring series starts.
With sunny blue skies and temperatures in the low
seventies, seven pacers and amateur drivers met
starter Bob Blum at the gate.
As the field approached the three-quarter mark, Rathbone
and Do You Really were enjoying a
three-length lead and appeared to
be on the verge of bottoming out the
field. Dr. Karyn Malinowski,
steering her own Hugme Christi and John Regina, suffering a
first-over trip with Trappers Treat, were
struggling just to keep the leaders within
sight. Suddenly, Trappers Treat began
to back through the field as the overland trip had taken
its toll. Yarock seized the opportunity
and pulled Benzorama to the outside
into the spot vacated by Regina. In a few,
quick pacing strides, he sailed
beyond Malinowski and was taking dead aim on
Rathbone.
Wheeling into the turn, Yarock had Benzorama
moving like a winner as Rathbone's once comfortable
advantage had all but disappeared. By the time they
reached the head of the stretch, they were on even
terms.
At the top of the lane, all signs pointed to a
classic fight to the finish between Yarock and
Rathbone. However, Do You Really had little left
in the tank and was no match for Benzorama.
Without as much as raising his whip, Yarock made quick
work of the battle and easily drew clear. Benzorama
waltzed home and hit the wire, two lengths to the good,
with Yarock visibly enjoying the ride. Rathbone and
Do You Really hung on for second while a late
rally by Seas In Me was good enough to
give Miguel Lopez the
show dough. Time of the mile was 1:59.3 after
fractions of 29.2, 59.2 and 1:29.4 through
three-quarters.
Karyn Malinowski and Hugme Christi were fourth,
followed in fifth by Neil Goldstein
with Walkinandlaughin. Regina and Trappers Treat
and George Munniksma
and It Fits rounded out the field.
The drivers will now move on to the Meadowlands as
the AHDC will present the 2010 Spring Pacing Series Final
(date and purse to be announced).
RESULTS Benzorama A --- b g 10
Panorama - Benemerenza - Bengasi Hanover Owned by David A. Yarock Racing
Stable, Tenafly, NJ - Trained by Jim Doherty, Jr. 29.2 - 1159.2 -- -
1:29.4- -- 1:59.3
NEIL GOLDSTEIN AND SINBAD
GO WIRE TO WIRE IN LEG III
NEIL GOLDSTEIN AND
SINBAD
THE 2010 SPRING PACING SERIES
LEG III
FREEHOLD RACEWAY
FRIDAY APRIL 2, 2010
Cherry Hill, NJ - A field of
six amateur competitors took to the track as the American Harness Drivers Club
returned to action with the third leg of the 2010
Spring Pacing Series on Friday April 2 at Freehold
Raceway. East Brunswick, New Jersey's Neil Goldstein and his mount Sinbad
made it look all too easy as they notched their
first win of the series with a dominating wire-to-wire
score for trainer Ned Urbanski.
Under
sunny, blue skies and temperatures hovering near seventy,
Goldstein fired Sinbad right to the lead from
his position in post one. In a matter of just a
few quick pacing strides, he eased the
fourteen-year-old veteran campaigner out to a two-length
lead. His closest competition, John Regina and Trapper's
Treat took up the chase in a desperate attempt
to reel the leaders back to the pack. However,
Goldstein had Sinbad hitting on all
cylinders and cruising around the Freehold oval, barely
breaking a sweat.
Turning for home, Regina vainly attempted one
last rally. He had narrowed the gap and
appeared ready to challenge for the lead. However,
with one flick of the whip, Goldstein reminded Sinbad
that he still had some work to do. The old
warrior snapped back to
attention, found another gear and pulled
away. They waltzed down the lane and
under the wire, two and a half lengths to the
good. Time of the mile over a fast track was 2:00
after fractions of 29.3, 1:01.2 and 1:30.2 to the
three-quarter mark. Regina and Trapper's Treat
finished second while George
Munniskma and Ludi Christy took the show
honors.
Bob Hechkoff with Art's
Regards, AHDC newcomer William
D'Andrea steering Roy Winterwood and Dr. Karyn Malinowski teaming with
her own Hugme Christi rounded out the order of
finish.
RESULTS Sinbad --- b g 14
Falcon Seelster - Sinali - Denali Owned by Ned Urbanski Stable, LLC,
Sayerville, NJ - Trained by Ned Urbanski 29.3- - 111:01.2 -- -
1:30.2- -- 2:00.0
ERIC TADDEO & ADMIRALS
CHANCE
GO THE DISTANCE TO TAKE LEG II
THE 2010 SPRING PACING SERIES
LEG II
FREEHOLD RACEWAY
FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2010
Cherry Hill, NJ - A
field of pacers and amateur drivers took to the stage on
Friday March 19 as the American
Harness Drivers Club returned to action at a very
spring-like Freehold Raceway with the second leg of the
2010 Spring Pacing Series. Warwick, New York's Eric Taddeo guided his own Admirals
Chance to victory in a well-earned coast-to-coast
victory, his first in competition with the AHDC.
Off
the track, Taddeo is a full time New York City
Firefighter. However, his equine
interests keep him busy while off duty. In
addition to being an accomplished trainer and noted
amateur driver, he is also the co-owner a 47-acre
equestrian boarding and riding facility.
Sunny
skies and temperatures into the seventies set the scene
as Taddeo left quickly from the two-hole and took
early command with his seven-year-old daughter of Admirals
Galley. Washington, New Jersey's George Munniksma immediately
ranged up with Ludi Christy to shadow the
leaders from the outside. Side by side, these
two teams circled the Freehold half-miler through
fractions of 30.3, 1:00.3 and 1:30.3 to the three-quarter
mark. Taddeo was not giving an inch as
Munniksma tried unsuccessfully to take the
lead. As the parade spun into the far turn, Neil Goldstein saw an
opportunity to join the fray in an attempt to
circle from the far outside with Sinbad.
Turning
for home, Goldstein changed strategy and pulled
Sinbad into the passing lane while a very game Ludi
Christy continued to press from the
outside. However, it was Taddeo's day as he got all
the right answers when asking for another gear from Admirals
Chance. With plenty of gas left in the
tank, she easily kept Munniksma, Goldstein and
a late-charging David Yarock
with Benzorama A at arm’s length as
they dueled to the wire. With one last surge, they
secured their victory, passing under the wire about
a half a length to the good. Time of the mile
over a fast racetrack was 2:01.1.
Munniskma
finished second with Ludi Christy while Yarock's
rally with Benzorama A was enough to take the
show spot away from Goldstein and Sinbad. Dr. Karyn Malinowski with Hugme
Christi and Bob Hechkoff
steering Art's Regards rounded out the field.
John Regina and Trapper's
Treat were a late scratch.
RESULTS Admirals Chance --- b
m 5 Admirals Gally - Captiva Cam - Cams Catch Owned by Eric Taddeo, Warwick, NY -
Trained by Eric Taddeo 30.3- - 111:00.3 -- -
1:30.3- -- 2:01.1
MIGUEL LOPEZ AND SEAS IN ME
TAKE THE SPRING SERIES OPENER
MIGUEL LOPEZ AND SEAS IN
ME
THE 2010 SPRING PACING SERIES
LEG I
FREEHOLD RACEWAY
FRIDAY MARCH 5, 2010
Cherry Hill, NJ -In
the latter part of January, the American
Harness Drivers Club's prospects of conducting
future amateur racing events at Freehold
Raceway were bleak at best. While an
agreement had seemed to be in place between the club
and Freehold racing officials to conduct a winter
series, economic and financial issues were taking a toll
on the historic Central Jersey oval's ability to operate
in a "business as usual" mode. The extra
expenses incurred to allow the club to
continue racing was something that the track was
just not in a good position to absorb. Once again,
the future of the AHDC was in serious jeopardy.
Fortunately, several senior members of the
club threw down the gloves and decided that the
AHDC was not going to give up without a fight.
It was time to think out of the box and come up
with solutions that would be in the best interest of both
Freehold Raceway and the AHDC. On February 20,
the club and track officials met to discuss these and
other ideas to address the obstacles. By all
accounts, the meeting was not only amicable but also very
productive. As a result, the club will implement a
number of modifications to reduce the financial burden on
the track. Some of the proposed
changes involve starting the series a few weeks
earlier than in past years as well as changing the racing
day from Saturday morning to Friday afternoon. In return,
the club has received the approval to conduct a
five-leg Spring Pacing series.
A few moments before a field of eight pacers and amateur
drivers lined up behind Bob Blum's Freehold Raceway
starting gate for first leg of the re-invented 2010
Spring Pacing Series on Friday March 5, a
very relieved club president Bernie Boland offered, "As
long as we can race, we'll do whatever we have to
do". Fittingly, it was the venerable AHDC
veteran Miguel Lopez
who kicked off the new era by steering Seas In Me
to victory.
Lopez and the seven-year-old gelded son of Island
Fantasy took the lead from pacesetters Neil Goldstein and Sinbad just beyond
the quarter pole, and then never trailed again.
They led the parade through the half mile, keeping
Goldstein at arm's length. They were then faced
with a strong challenge by George
Munniksma and It Fits as
they engaged from the outside passing the
three quarter mark. As they funneled
into the far turn, Munniksma pulled It Fits
to even terms with Lopez and appeared poised to rush
right on by. However, Lopez was not about to
allow them to steal any more ground. He urged the
very game Seas In Me into another gear as they
entered the stretch.
Down the lane, the anticipated duel to the wire never
materialized as Lopez and Seas In Me slowly
pulled away and kept their advantage right to the
wire, taking victory, a long neck in front of Munniksma
and It Fits. Time of the mile was
2:01.3 after fractions of 29.1, 59.2 and 1:31.1 to the
three quarter mark. Goldstein and Sinbad
held on to take the show dough while a late charging John Regina and Falcon's Fire
A rushed up for fourth. New Jersey
Equestrian of the Year, Dr. Karyn
Malinowski and her own Hug Me Christi were
next, finishing fifth.
Dave Yarock found himself in
some early trouble as his mount Heidi's Character went
off stride, interfering with the paths of Art's
Regards with Bob Hechkoff and
Jenna's World handled by Brad
Rathbone. In the end, Yarock finished sixth
but placed eight behind Bob Hechkoff who was placed
sixth and Brad Rathbone, placed seventh with Jenna's
World.
The American Harness Drivers Club returns to action at
Freehold Raceway on Friday March 19 the the second leg of
the 2010 Spring Pacing Series. For more information, you
can keep up with all the news from the AHDC by visiting
our official website at http://www.ahdcracing.com.
RESULTS Seas In Me--- b g 7
Island Fantasy - Shebelievesinme - Albatross Owned by Rauni E. Fitzpatrick,
Stockton, NJ - Trained by Joseph Gallo. 29.1- - 1159.2 -- -
1:31.1- -- 2:01.3
POINT STANDINGS Final 2010 Spring Series
Standings
DRIVER
WINTER
CARRYOVER
LEG I
MAR 5, 2010
LEG II
MAR 19, 2010
LEG III
APR 2, 2010
LEG IV
APR 16, 2010
LEG V
APR 30, 2010
FINAL
TOT
PTS
MIGUEL
LOPEZ
9
13
-
-
-
5
18**
45
NEIL
GOLDSTEIN
16
6
3
11
-
3
6
45
GEORGE
MUNNIKSMA
12
8
6
4
-
1
2
33
BOB
HECHKOFF
23
3
1
3
-
-
-
30
JOHN
REGINA
10
5
1*
6
-
2
4
28
KARYN
MALINOWSKI
12
4
2
1
-
4
5
28
DAVE
YAROCK
3
1
4
-
-
12
8
28
ERIC
TADDEO
-
-
11
-
-
3
14
BRAD
RATHBONE
-
2
-
-
-
7
-
9
WILLIAM
D'ANDREA
-
-
-
2
-
-
1
3
*Awarded One(1) Point
by rule due to scratch out of the paddock on 3/19 (See Conditions).
** Five(5) Point Bonus for Win in the Series Final.
DAVE YAROCK ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH
OF A NEW SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Cherry Hill, New Jersey -
David Yarock, co-president of Financial Access Network,
an estate and financial planning firm based in Tenafly
NJ, is pleased to announce the formation of the Edward
Weiner and Edward Yarock Equine Scholarship Fund. The
mission of the fund is to assist individuals associated
within the harness racing community in their pursuit of
higher education.
Yarock, an amateur driver and winner of the American Harness Drivers
Club’s 2008 Spring Pacing
Series final has created the fund, named in honor of his
father and late father-in-law, as a means for giving back
to the sport of harness racing.
These scholarships
will be available to those pursuing higher education
related to the harness racing industry as well as those
currently employed in the business, along with their
family members. It is Yarock’s intent to build this
program into the largest scholarship fund available to
the industry.
Yarock hopes to have
the funds available for September or January.
For more information,
contact Mr. Yarock at (201) 567-7957 or e-mail dyarock@aol.com.
PROCEDURES FOR CALLING IN ENTRIES
ENTRIES ARE TO
BE CALLED IN TO THE AHDC OFFICE ON MONDAY
NO LATER THAN 6:00 PM
FOR THAT WEEK'S RACING
PHONE
(732) 671 - 4632
WHEN
LEAVING A PHONE MESSAGE, REMEMBER:
SPEAK SLOWLY, SPELL OUT
HORSE'S NAME, DRIVER'S NAME AND TRAINER'S NAME
SPECIFY CURRENT CONDITIONS
HORSE IS NOW RACING UNDER
(I.E. NON-WINNERS OF....OR
$6,000 CLAIMER, ETC.)
THE AHDC RECORD
BOOK A Statistical Almanac
Documenting the History of the
American Harness Drivers Club Click Here
ATTENTION
AHDC MEMBERS !!!
TIM FOUTS MEMORIAL
CHAMPIONSHIP
QUALIFICATIONS POLICY
The honor of representing the American Harness Drivers Club at the annual
Tim Fouts Memorial Amateur Championship in Delaware, Ohio
will go to the points champion of a combined Fall and subsequent
Spring Pacing Series.
Additionally, a five (5) point bonus will be awarded to the
winner of each series final.
