Pro’s beat amateurs: charities are big winners

Pompano Beach, FL, March 7, 2022 – The highly anticipated Pro-Am series, sponsored by the Florida Amateur Driving Club, lured the largest crowd of the harness racing season at Pompano Park on Sunday night and witnessed the greatness of the legends as they up-ended the Amateur drivers 75-60 in the three-race series.

Legends Wally Hennessey, Dave Ingraham and Mickey McNichol reached the winner’s circle in their respective events with the big winners being the Christian’s Harness Horsemen’s Association, the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, Tomorrow’s Rainbow and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, all receiving substantial donations due to the generosity of the FADC membership donating all driving earnings to the cause along with the participating legends in Sunday’s events.

Hennessey kicked off the festivities by guiding his very own Groovey Kid ($4.20) to a 1:58 win over amateur Jamie Marra’s Explosive Motion with Steve Oldford (amateur team) third. Show Me The Magic (John Campagnuolo-amateur team) was fourth with Watkins (Mickey McNichol) next in the octet.

It was the 300th career start for Groovey Kid, who now has 51 lifetime wins.

Ingraham then stepped up to the place and guided Cash Hit ($2.60) to a popular win in 1:55.1, a season’s best for the six-year-old gelded son of Uncle Peter. Holton (Hennesswey) was second while The Big Muscle (Dein Spriggs (Amateur Team) was third.

For A Dreamer (BIlly Muggleston-Amateur Team) was fourth despite being parked the mile from the nine post and Big Sky Rocket (Bruce Ranger) was fifth in the field of nine.

Cash Hit is trained by Rob Rittof for owner Martin Budkey and now has a career bankroll of $176,267.

The finale saw Mickey McNichol giving Nobel Legend ($3.40) superb handling to score in a “typical McNichol rated mile” in 1:58.1. Everyone’s Talkin (Ron Cusimano-Amateur Team) was second while Magic Bob (Ranger) was next. Forbidden Song (Tommy Santeramo-Amateur Team) finished fourth while Better Call Saul (Tony Dinges-Amateur Team) was next in this field of eight.

Noble Legend is trained by Jack Rice for Team Rice Racing and Vogel and Wags Nags Stable. The 10-year-old altered son of Kadabra had 47 career wins and $387,153 in bounty.

After the event, the four legends autographed hats in the winner’s circle to the delight of the crowd.

Of course, the big winners were the four charities benefiting from the generosity of all of those participating.
The Christian Harness Horsemen’s Ascoaition was established in 1983. The CHHA shepherds the Way, the Truth and the Light to its many mambers.

Tomorrow’s Rainbow provides grief support for children ages three through high school and their caregivers experiencing grief, loss or trauma.

The Standardbred Retirement Foundation provides humane care and services for horses in need and have been a safe haven for retired racehorses that need care or rehabilitation. They are the largest standardbred adoption agency in the country.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation makes a wish come true every 14 hours for children that are not as fortunate in terms of health issues.

The Florida Amateur Driving Club has provided aid to many charitable organizations to the tune of some $240,000 since their inception.

The next FADC event takes plaace on March 15 and 16 with eight of the greatest drivers to ever sit in a sulky gather for a multi-race competition including, Wally Hennessey, David Miller, Kevin Wallis, Peter Wrenn, Yannick Gingras, Dexter Dunn, James MacDonald and Andrew McCarthy..

For full race results, click here.

by John Berry, for Pompano Park and The FADC