Peter Kleinhans wins trip to New Zealand

Perhaps not well known but the rules that governed the recently completed North American Amateur Drivers Association Trotting Series at Monticello Raceway stated that the top three in points upon the completion of the 10-week series would be eligible for a drawing with the winner earning an all-expense paid trip to New Zealand when a NAADA Team will compete against their harness racing counterparts down under in a Friendship Competition in early December.

Peter Kleinhans was the winner of that lottery drawing on Saturday, August 27. He prevailed over Hannah Miller and Tony Ciufettelli and now he'll be the captain of the American team in that competition.

Kleinhans competed in seven of the ten legs in the series and drove three winners which earned him 53 points, third best in the 10-week series.

When contacted about winning the drawing Kleinhans was really excited. "I was shocked but I'm absolutely looking forward to race in New Zealand," he said. "I never thought I'd be in a position to win the trip but I'm thrilled and certainly appreciative. I was there when I was 10 years old and this is a great opportunity to once again return to New Zealand."

To quell any debates about the lottery drawing NAADA president and founder, Joe Faraldo, photographed the entire procedure and displayed it on Facebook.

"Peter's name was drawn over the other finalists who were eligible to win a free trip to New Zealand as part of a US team traveling there in December of this year," Faraldo explained. "Peter has been an asset to NAADA and drives a horse very well. He will be a great ambassador for amateur racing down under."

But before the Friendship Competition takes place in New Zealand NAADA member and top American amateur driver, Hannah Miller, will represent the U.S.A. in the upcoming World Cup of Amateur Racing which begins on September 7th in Budapest, Hungary.

John Manzi