SBOANJ and Freehold to match Pantaleano donation to Coletta by Carol Hodes, for the SBOANJ
The Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey and Freehold Raceway will match Pantaleano’s donation of his five percent of money earned. Both the SBOANJ and Freehold urge other drivers and trainers to join Pantaleano and will match their donations from the Saturday (Nov. 23) Freehold program.
Pantaleano has a driving assignment in all 12 races at Freehold, many of them morning line favorites or second choices. His assignments, in race order, are Star Of The Game, Keep On Amazin, Family Pride, Prestissimo, Csardas, Ideal Danny, Kaya’s Sweetheart, Beau Rivage N, Travers Hall, Pacific Escape, Butn Your Shirt Ed and Feel The Blues.
“We hope that other drivers and trainers will join in this fundraising effort,” said SBOANJ President Tom Luchento. “If they do, we will match their contributions. We thank Freehold for supporting this effort to help Anthony Coletta.”
Coletta suffered severe injuries in a racing accident on Nov. 17 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Augustine to give Market Share’s earnings to Coletta
by Chris Tully, for Winners Circle Blueberries
Hammonton, NJ — Bill Augustine, co-owner of Breeders Crown Open Trot winner Market Share, has pledged to donate 50% of his share of the horse’s Saturday night earnings to the Anthony Coletta fund. Installed as the early morning line favorite at 4-5, Market Share will face five other trotting stars in the $50,000 final leg of the TVG free for all at the new Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment’s opening night.
Moved by the overwhelming support that the industry has shown Anthony Coletta and his family during this difficult time, Augustine notes that the decision was easy.
![](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/56769-Bill-Augustine.jpg)
Chris Tully photo
Bill Augustine post parades at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
“I have known Tony since he was a young boy. He lived right next door to our Blueberry packing house in Hammonton. He used to bring packages of my Blueberries to Chester!”
Augustine has been driving his own horse at Harrah’s Philadelphia recently, and says that the tragedy hits very close to home. “I have been out there with these guys, and I know first-hand how these accidents can cause a dramatic change in people’s lives.”
The Blueberry magnate added that, “I would sincerely hope that some of the other prominent owners in the industry, like myself and Richard Young, would step up and help this young driver and his family in their time of need.”
Social media exploded Thursday (Nov. 21) with the exploits of Yannick Gingras, who pledged to donate all of his driver’s percentage from the Harrah’s afternoon card. Others, like Hanover’s Murray Brown, matched the generous offer. Perhaps a power greater than ourselves took over as “the Green Hornet”.
Amateur drivers to donate commissions to fund for injured driver
by John Manzi, for the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series
Monticello, NY –— Eighteen of the country’s top amateur drivers will convene at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon November 24 to compete in the Delvin Miller Memorial Driving Gold and Silver Cup Championships – the final contests in the seven- month C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series. The Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association has announced that the entire $2,000 in drivers’ commissions to be earned in these events will be donated to the fund being established to assist Anthony Coletta, the young driver severely injured in a driving accident at Harrah’s Philadelphia last weekend.
Two nine-horse divisions will comprise the championship finals with the $15,000 Silver Cup carded as race 10 and the $25,000 Gold Cup as race 12 on Sunday’s pari-mutuel program. Both divisions will be contested at the distance of 1-1/4 miles.
Noteworthy about this year’s grand finales to the Billings Driving Series is that they will be raced to aid, Anthony Coletta, who sustained grave injuries from a driving accident last week and is fighting for his life in a Philadelphia hospital. While it is customary for amateur drivers to donate the driving commissions they earn to charitable causes, the donation of their commissions from these races is to provide financial aid to a fallen fellow driver in critical condition with onerous survival challenges. “Like many of the professional drivers and others who are stepping up to help Anthony Coletta survive the biggest fight of his life, the Billings Series drivers are committed to doing our part”, stated Tony Verusso, President of the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association which runs the annual Billings Amateur Driving Series.
“Marvelous Marvin” Raber’s ultra-consistent Tabulator, who has drawn post six, and Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff’s Thehouseisrockin from post eight, figure to be the ones to beat in the Gold Cup Championship. However, the overall Billings Series and Midwest point leader, Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and his Oliver Kiss will undoubtedly be heard from when they leave from the four-hole.
Thehouseisrockin’s eight wins and almost $39,000 in purse earnings this year tops all his competition‘s seasonal stats. But Tabulator’s 1:56.2 record, with seven victories and a $31,000 seasonal bankroll, owns the fastest win time of the nine starters. Oldford’s Oliver Kiss, with over $21,000 in earnings and a 1:59.2 mark this year usually seems to find a way to be in the hunt.
The Silver Cup appears to be a barn-burner when “Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli’s, CR What’s My Name, and Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg’s Whatnblazes, lock horns. The former has a $52,000 seasonal bankroll with 12 wins and a half-mile mark of 1:56.4 while the latter sports over $31,000 in yearly earnings with a 1:59.3 record over a double oval. And last year’s USHWA Amateur Driver of the Year, Bobby “Rapid Rail” Krivelin’s five-time winner Current Crisis with a 1:57.3 mark can’t be counted out.
Last year “Trader Bud” Hatfield won the Gold Cup with Wolf’s Jann in a time of 2:31.2 and “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo copped the Silver Cup Championship with Travelin’ Preacher in 2:31.4. Hatfield will again compete in the Gold Cup from post 9 with Wolf’s Jann who only has seven starts and purses of $1585 thus far in 2013. “Smokin’ Joe” will not drive this year because of a nasty elbow injury he sustained a month ago while riding a bicycle with his girlfriend on the streets near his home in Kew Gardens, Queens.
Breedings to benefit Anthony Coletta
by Steven Weisman
In a continuing effort to raise money for Anthony Coletta and his family several breeding farms have donated 2014 breedings to stallions that will be auctioned off at Ongait.com and all proceeds will go to the Coletta’s. Brittany farms has donated a breeding to Vintage Master, Fashion Farms has donated a breeding to Real Artist and Anointed Farm as donated a breeding to Funny Bones, Ongait.com is contributing by hosting the auctions. Please bid generously for a great cause!
If you would like to donate a breeding or a stallion share to benefit the Anthony Coletta please contact Steven Weisman at 516-312-6500.
Challenge for this Sunday for racing fans to help Anthony Coletta
by Millard S. Beatty III
I have been the harness racing handicapper for the Delco Times on Harrah’s Philadelphia since opening day in September 2006.
I would like to give a challenge this coming Sunday for those racing bettors and also new harness racing bettors who will be betting on Harrah’s Philadelphia. The challenge will be a “win, win” situation to benefit Anthony Colleta.
The Challenge is that I will list my “top pick” for each of the 14 races here. I will make a $2 win wager or a $4 win wager on each of my top picks. If you don’t want to make a win bet, then you can do a show bet and the odds are better to getting a return.
If you win a race the total amount would be a nice donation to help aid Anthony’s family during his recovery. If the bet loses, then the cost of that bet would be donated to help.
If you cannot bet all the races, then pick a race or two to play to try to help.
- Anthony Coletta injured in racing accident at Harrah’s Philadelphia (Monday, November 18, 2013)
Driver Anthony Coletta was injured during the 11th race at Harrah’s Philadelphia Racetrack on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 17).
- Industry rallies to aid Anthony Coletta (Wednesday, November 20, 2013)
After hearing about the serious accident involving driver Anthony Coletta on Sunday, the harness racing industry has rallied to raise funds to assist his family as he fights to recover from his injuries at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
- Equine Tax Group announces ongoing donation to Coletta Fund (Thursday, November 21, 2013)
Larry Rosenblum, president of The Equine Tax Group, announced his organization’s plan to donate to the growing Anthony Coletta Benefit Fund.
- Big Dee’s to hold charity raffle to benefit Noble and Coletta (Thursday, November 21, 2013)
Big Dee’s will be holding charity raffles to benefit Chip Noble and Anthony Coletta.
- Ohio horsemen show support for Anthony Coletta (Thursday, November 21, 2013)
On Saturday night (Nov. 23) reinsmen at Northfield Park and Lebanon Raceway will be showing support for fallen driver Anthony Coletta by wearing ribbons of the young man’s colors during the races.
- SBOANJ, Freehold and horsemen team to raise more than $5,000 for Coletta (Sunday, November 24, 2013)
Jim Pantaleano instigated the fundraising effort, and both Freehold Raceway and the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey matched funds to raise more than $5,000 on Saturday (Nov. 23) to benefit injured harness driver Anthony Coletta.
- Official fund established for Anthony Coletta (Sunday, November 24, 2013)
Through the efforts of Anthony Coletta’s close friend and trainer Anthony Defrancesco, who has spearheaded the massive effort by the harness racing industry to raise money for the injured driver and his family, an official “Stay Strong A. Coletta” has been established at TD Bank in Philadelphia.
- Anthony Defrancesco holding raffle to benefit Anthony Coletta (Monday, November 25, 2013)
Anthony Coletta’s close friend and trainer Anthony Defrancesco is holding a raffle on his Facebook page to benefit the injured driver.
- Batavia Downs involved in Anthony Coletta Fund on Wednesday (Monday, November 25, 2013)
Thanksgiving is set for Thursday but Wednesday night (Nov. 27) at Batavia Downs, the true meaning and spirit of the holiday season will be front and center as many in the driver’s colony, along with trainers and owners, will be donating their earnings from the 12-race program in support of Harrah’s Philadelphia driver Anthony Coletta who was seriously injured in an on-track accident last Sunday (Nov. 17).
- Fundraising efforts for Anthony Coletta continue at Cal Expo (Wednesday, November 27, 2013)
Horsemen across the country and Canada are coming to the aid of Anthony Coletta, who was seriously injured on Nov. 17 in an accident at Harrah’s Philadelphia racetrack, and Cal Expo is no exception.
- Cat Manzi to donate Friday earnings to Anthony Coletta (Wednesday, November 27, 2013)
Word got out of Cat Manzi’s return to the races in time for Wednesday morning driver changes, resulting in his being named on seven horses on the 12-race program on Friday afternoon (Nov. 29) at Freehold Raceway.
- Western New York horsemen race for Anthony Coletta (Thursday, November 28, 2013)
Horse owners, trainers and drivers donated in most cases all of their Wednesday night earnings to the “Stay Strong A. Coletta” fund.
- Cloverleaf SOA and Rosecroft to hold fundraiser for Anthony Coletta (Monday, December 02, 2013)
Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association and Rosecroft Raceway will be holding a fundraiser for Anthony Coletta on Saturday (Dec. 7) at Rosecroft Raceway.
- Saratoga drivers to donate to Anthony Coletta (Tuesday, December 03, 2013)
The drivers at Saratoga Casino and Raceway will donate their five percent drivers fee on Wednesday (Dec. 4) to fellow horseman Anthony Coletta.
- Coletta Fundraiser hits $12,835 mark at Batavia Downs (Wednesday, December 04, 2013)
The ‘Stay Strong Anthony Coletta’ fund drive will conclude Wednesday night at Batavia Downs and the event will be capped off by two tremendous and generous donations.
- Adventure Bound wins $30,000 Dover feature ‘In support of Anthony Coletta’ (Thursday, December 05, 2013)
Adventure Bound won the $30,000 Preferred/Open Handicap Pace in 1:49.2, the fastest mile on the Thursday card at Dover Downs. The day’s feature race was named “In support of Anthony Coletta,” the driver involved in a Harrah’s Philadelphia racing accident three weeks ago.
- Successful fundraiser for Anthony Coletta at Rosecroft (Thursday, December 12, 2013)
Maryland based horsemen rallied around Anthony Coletta this past Saturday night as $8,400 was raised in support of the ‘Stay Strong Anthony Coletta’ fund.
- ‘Stay Strong Anthony Coletta’ race at Harrah’s Philadelphia (Monday, December 16, 2013)
Trainers, drivers, grooms, staff and management gathered in the winner’s enclosure in a show of support for Anthony Coletta.