Amateur challenge
to be contested this weekend
Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - by David
Siegel, president, the California
Amateur Driving Club
The stage is set for what is
hoped to be the first annual East versus West Amateur
Driving Challenge, which will be contested at Cal-Expo
Raceway in Sacramento, Calif.
Six races will be contested over two nights, Friday and
Saturday, April 7 and 8, between five of the nation's top-10
C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series drivers, to be known
as the East Team, and the top-five finishers in the
California Fall Amateur Driving Series, to be known as the
West Squad.
Dein Spriggs, Tony Verruso, Al Schwartz, Greg Keidel, and
Tom Williams have boarded their stagecoach and are headed
due west; they will land not far from where gold was
discovered. just over 150 years ago.
The East Team, loaded with high Universal Driver Ratings and
experience, will take on the upstarts from the Golden State
-- Tim Clevenger, David Siegel, Susan Boyce, Jason Maier,
and Benny Alvarez.
The winners will be determined by a points system. The six
races will feature a random driver draw, and will be
contested with horses in a variety of classes. California
amateur races, which began this past summer during the
California State Fair, have been enjoyed by California’s
wagering public, and have drawn averaged higher handles than
similarly slotted non-amateur races.
"We are so thrilled by the 'Challenge' coming this weekend,"
California Amateur Driving Club (CADC) president David
Siegel said. "I think we already have the best amateur
program in the country and this will only enhance it
further. We have a mix of owners, trainers, assistant
trainers, and grooms racing here in our amateur events.
“I have read about some programs being a rich man’s game;
this is not the case here. While our program is designed in
large part to attract new owners, it still allows for a
variety of participants. And the public loves it. They have
spoken loud and clear with their wagering dollars.
“We are also so very lucky to have horsemen who clearly
understand both the short-term and long-term benefits of a
solid amateur program. Ours is already paying some dividends
to the backstretch.
"But really the pinnacle of the program is the East versus
West Challenge. This was the brainchild of Sacramento
Harness Association TV analyst Dave Goldschmidt, and it is
terrific for all of us. The public will get to see and wager
on six very interesting races with a great new twist.
“Our guests get to experience driving on a new track in a
different neck of the woods. Our professional drivers get to
watch and be excited or amused, whatever the case might be,
as we try to upset the experienced Billings pilots, but most
of all, five of us get to drive in an awesome event."
Sacramento Harness Association general manager and U.S.
Trotting Association director Chris Schick said “we really
think this is an exciting concept and expect it to be very
competitive -- and provide for great viewing and wagering."
To help promote the event, TrackMaster, provider of harness
racing information to the wagering public, and a U.S.
Trotting Association partner, will offer free handicapping
products, including past performance programs, selections,
and FAST sheets, for the Friday and Saturday Cal-Expo cards
at www.trackmaster.com/challenge.
More information is available at the California Amateur
Driving Club Web site, at
www.thecadc.com
