Industry rallies to aid Anthony Coletta
November 20, 2013,by Dan Leary, USTA Director of Marketing and Communications
Columbus, OH — 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.
The fundraising effort is being spearheaded by Coletta’s close friend and trainer Anthony Defrancesco, known as “Pork Chop” to his friends. Defrancesco is accepting donations in Coletta’s name and has ordered 6,000 specially designed wrist bands that will have Coletta’s name with the words “Stay Strong” on them.
“I ordered 6,000 of them to sell for $5 each to raise money, but I don’t know if 6,000 will be enough,” said Defrancesco. The bracelets should be ready for sale by Monday (Nov. 25).
Donations can be made out to Anthony Coletta and sent in care of Defrancesco at 2551 South Mildred St., Philadelphia, PA 19148. To order wrist bands or to assist in fundraising efforts, he can be reached at 215.385.6732.
In addition, Defrancesco is working with a local bank to establish a permanent fund for Coletta. Details will be announced when they are finalized.
A Facebook “Thoughts and Prayers for Anthony Coletta” page, which has added more than 4,000 friends since its creation on Monday, can be found by clicking here.
But in the last four days, the charitable endeavors have spread like wildfire to many people and organizations in the industry.
Drivers Yannick Gingras and Dan Rawlings are two of those leading the way.
“I just started doing my own little thing,” explained Gingras. “The last thing that Anthony’s family should be worried about is money.”
It started on his Facebook page.
“I posted a Facebook message saying that I would be racing for Anthony on Thursday and would donate all of the money I earn,” explained Gingras. “And that was it until yesterday when my sponsor Scott Robinson from RaceHorse Gold said ‘I’ll match it.’ He was the first to step up.
“Then more people said they would match it and we’re up to 11 or 12 now,” added Gingras. “What started off pretty small has become pretty big.”
Rawlings is rallying the troops at The Meadows.
“Dan is collecting checks and cash from a lot of people that he will be taking up to Harrah’s on Sunday and he’ll be picking up the wrist bands while he is there,” said Meadows Standardbred Owners Association spokesperson Heather Wilder.
“I can’t imagine where my family would be if this happened to me and I know that Anthony does a lot of work on the farm to help his parents,” said Rawlings. “I’ve got a boatload of checks to bring up there (Harrah’s Philadelphia) on Sunday.”
Rawlings relayed more stories of support. Brett Miller has offered to train one of the Coletta horses for free and donate all of the driver and trainer earnings to the fund. The drivers at Lebanon Raceway in Ohio will be making donations from their earnings this weekend and those at The Meadows will be wearing armbands with Coletta’s red and white colors on Friday.
At Yonkers Raceway, the Standardbred Owners Association of New York is also busy collecting donations for Coletta as well.
“We’re doing it the same as when there was the fire in Ohio, we are asking for donations, big or small, whatever they can give; we have signs up in the paddock,” explained SOA of NY and USTA Director John Brennan. “All of the drivers are gung ho, they all want to do something.”
At Harrah’s Philadelphia, horsemen’s rep Mike Izzo reports that they will be accepting donations in a collection box starting Thursday.
And according to Defrancesco, Janet Davis at Dover Downs is collecting donations from drivers there; owner Pat O’Brien is donating a percentage of his winnings from Thursday through Sunday; and the Blooded Horse Sale at Delaware, Ohio, held raffles to raise money.
Outside racing, Defrancesco also has heard from groups who are sponsoring trail rides to raise money for the family, too.
- 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).
- 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.
- Industry bands together to help Anthony Coletta (Friday, November 22, 2013)
The harness racing industry is coming together to help driver Anthony Coletta, who was seriously injured in a driving accident.
- 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.