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MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2007 ALL WINNERS AT THE EAST-WEST CHALLENGE Contact: David Siegel (dsiegel@axcis.com) Chris Schick, Sacramento Harness
Association (Cal-Expo) General Manager summed it all up during the trophy
presentation for the Second Annual East-West Amateur Driving Challenge. He said simply “This is what harness
racing is all about”. While Team West
prevailed 139-109 defending its East-West title, the competition on the track
was only exceeded by the sportsmanship and camaraderie that occurred off the
track. Those who know the history of
harness racing know its roots were in the races between “gentlemen drivers”. These drivers were all amateurs. The second edition of the East-West
Challenge exhibited a unique combination of individual achievement during the
race, team spirit between the races, and support for our sport and each other
at all other times. The 2007 series treated the Easterners with
“Chamber of Commerce Weather” as Chris Schick so aptly put it. Upper 70 and low 80-degree temperatures
and sunny skies welcomed the Billings members that comprised team east. Friday morning and afternoon, Team East was
treated to a tour of the Desomer Stables, and breeding and training facility
run by the Desomer Family and a wonderful luncheon at the Desomer home. Then, the competition got started. The first leg ended up in a one-point advantage
for team West as the West’s Jim Foley with Debupante ($6.60) edged out the
East’s Joe Faraldo with Pacing Artist. The eastern invaders took a commanding
lead (41-28) lead after the second leg finishing 1-2 with Michelle Ruvola
blowing up the tote board behind Cicely Coe ($142.20) winning by a neck over
teammate Todd Whitney and Smack in the lone trotting event of the
series. The final leg on Friday night
resulted in Team West coming back finishing 1-2 with Rick Plano trained
horses. Benny Alvarez, the competition’s
eventual top individual point getter, crossed the wire first with Corrigal N
$(5.60) defeating teammate David Siegel and Skaterboi N putting the Left
Coasters ahead by just two points (66-64) going into the second day of competition. On Saturday, with the team’s whips safely
stored away, the teams were treated to a tour of the State Capitol by Steve
Chambers (tour guide extraordinaire) and a visit to Sacramento's Old Town, which
is a throwback to the gold rush era. The
competition resumed with the fifth race on Saturday. The race was carded with a field of nine,
but after scratches only six went postward.
Dave Siegel put the East Team ahead by a 15-point margin (80-65) guiding
Look Left N ($4.40) to an open length win over his teammate Jim Foley
piloting Red Star Glenna. The fifth
leg of the competition saw the event’s first repeat winner, Benny Alvarez
driving Yankee’s Mattjesty ($12.40) to another open length win for Team West over
Bomb Breeze and James Guagliardo who finished in the place position, also for
Team West. This 1-2 punch gave the
Westerners an insurmountable 120-86 edge. Team East came back with a vengence in the series finale as Todd Whitney crossed the wire first with his charge OGS Suzie P ($7.40) and teammate Peter Gerry driving Indigo Franco N to finish 1-2 and giving Team East something to remember as they contemplate the 2008 Edition of the series. The final tally – West 139, East 109. Detailed results, charts and race replays can be found on the host's California Amateur Driving Club (CADC) web site at: www.thecadc.com/standings_eastwest07.html Joe Faraldo, Michelle Ruvola, Todd Whitney, Peter Gerry and Gene Miller, all top Billings Drivers from 2006 represented Team East. The Golden Staters, using their home field advantage were Jim Foley, James Guagliardo, Dave Siegel, Alan Kirshenbaum and Benny Alvarez. 27 different Cal-Expo trainers entered 56 horses in the six race series. “There is not sufficient space to thank all of those who contributed to making this event the success that it was. 27 trainers saw the positive attributes of amateur racing to enter their horses. Seeing old friends, making new ones, great sportsmanship, and the eventual attraction of new owners through possible participation are just a few of the things amateur racing brings to the sport. I cannot thank these horsemen enough for their contributions,” said California Amateur Driving Club president and Challenge participant David Siegel. “We also greatly appreciate the contributions of our operator, the Sacramento Harness Association (SHA) which, for the second year running, gave this event the financial and promotional support it needed to be successful. Working with the horsemen to have full fields and competitive races would not have been possible without the hard work of racing secretary Fred Kuebler and his dedicated race office staff. CADC secretary and good-will ambassador Steve Chambers ensured that all of the needs of Team East were taken care of and is most appreciated for his efforts. Finally, to have been honored in the presence of some of the best amateur drivers in the country, making the long journey westward, and contributing to the purse augmentation of these races is a testament to their dedication to our sport. It was truly a team effort on so many dimensions and in a time with so many challenges and distractions from the core of racing, it was so refreshing to have such great camaraderie off the track with such great competition on the track" said Siegel. |