Amateur’s illustrated the best qualities of the sport

Last weekend’s (March 12-13) Isle Pompano Park International Drivers Championship illustrated the best qualities of the sport as Isle Pompano Park, FADC, FEGAT and FSBOA came together to organize, promote and operate a fine weekend event. 11 international harness racing amateur drivers came together to race in seven competitive contests with New Zealand’s Danny Blakemore scoring two victories on the way to 41 points and a narrow decision over USA’s Dein Spriggs. The race wins and point totals are shown below along with our congrats to all participants and the organizers.

Point Winners:

Danny Blakemore, New Zealand, 41

Dein Spriggs, USA, 36

Enrico Columbino, Italy, 31

Michael Gutsche, Germany, 31

Ivan Serik, Russia, 27

Jaime Bassa, Spain, 25

Andrea Fazekas, Hungary, 21

Johann Preining, Jr., Austria, 21

Tapio Hoikka, Finland, 15

Michael Horner, Denmark, 13

Nils Oliv-Holm, Norway, 12 

Race Winners:

March 12

Andrea Fazekas (Hungary), Princess Crown, 1:56.4f, $6,000 Trot

Danny Blakemore (New Zealand), Head First, 1:56.1f, $6,000 Pace

Michael Gutsche (Germany), Play Fair, 1:59f, $6,000 Trot

Ivan Serik (Russia), Bad Angel, 1:59.3f, $6,000 Trot

March 13

Danny Blakemore (New Zealand), Benn’s Score Keeper, 1:57.4f, $6,000 Trot

Dein Spriggs (USA), Rhapsody’s Star, 1:56f, $6,000 Pace

Jaime Bassa (Spain), Flashy, 1:56,2f, $6,000 Pace

Organizers/Announcers:

Brett Revington, Isle PPK (Pompano Park)

Greg DeFrank, Isle PPK 

Joe Frasure, Isle PPK

John Berry, Isle PPK

Publicist Gabe Prewitt, Isle PPK Announcer

Roger Huston, Guest Announcer

Claes L. Ljung, FEGAT 

Dein Spriggs, FADC

Joe Pennacchio, FSBOA

USTA press coverage – Mike Tanner, Allison Conte, T.J. Burkett, Mark Hall

The day following the Drivers Championship we escorted Hungary’s Andrea Fazekas and her husband, professional driver Gyorgy Horvath, to Sunshine Meadows.

Numerous industry leaders showed great courtesy to the visitors:

Sunshine Meadows Hosts:

Bruce, Brooke and Brice Nickells (Bruce, 1,802 driver/trainer wins, $13,085,653 purses earned)

Chuck Sylvester (879 driver/trainer wins, $28,372,241 earned)

Paul Kelley (723 driver/trainer wins, $8,372,789 earned)

Also thanks go to Mr. and Mrs. Ebby Gerry, Jan Johnson, Ron Gurfein (who recalled Hungarian horsemen that moved to the USA and competed at Monticello Raceway) and Doug Miller for their hospitality.

Next up for international racing in the USA is the Sunday, March 20 first leg of the inaugural Drivers Cup between the five-driver teams of France and the USA conducted at Yonkers Raceway.

Two events (races #2 and #4) will occur at the 1-1/4 mile distance as part of the Yonkers simulcast that day to the PMU network.

This program will then continue in Paris, France on June 24-26.

The driver teams are led by USA captain Jason Bartlett (and his players Jordan Stratton, Tyler Buter, Pat Lachance and Daniel Dube) and captain Pierre Vercruysse of France (with teammates Matthieu Abrivard, Nicolas Ensch, Franck Ouvrie and Pierre Levesque).

The early favorites are, in race #2, Hasty Proffitt and driver Bartlett, and in race #4, Cousin Eddie with Jordan Stratton aboard.

Be there on-track or online for continued competitive international action.

Thomas H. Hicks