Freehold, NJ — Aside from putting on exciting, hard-to-predict races, amateur drivers consider themselves ambassadors of the game. Part of that mantra is to help preserve the history of harness racing, and there is no better way of doing that than to contribute to the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame.

On Saturday (Dec. 17), The American Harness Drivers’ Club (AHDC), through the unwavering support of the Freehold Raceway management and race office, did just that and donated $5,000 to that worthy institution.

AHDC drivers Tony Verruso (blue and yellow jacket) and Tony Beltrami (red jacket) present Tom Charters (second from right) with a $5,000 donation to the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame after Saturday’s AHDC event — won by Beltrami and Dark Pool — at Freehold Raceway. Also pictured (from left) are Rob Pennington, Dawn Verruso and Freehold director of racing Karen Fagliarone. Vicki Wright/World Wide Racing Photos.

Tom Charters, one of the Museum board members, was on hand to accept the donation. Anthony Verruso, president of the AHDC, commented that “the drivers take support of the sport very seriously and relish being able to help any way they can.”

In the lone AHDC trot of the day, Dark Pool and Tony Beltrami took advantage of an eventful first half, sustaining first-over push into the lead up the backstretch and holding Campbellini (Dante Scattolini) 2-1/4 lengths at bay to win in 2:01.1. Masster Blue (Verruso) finished third.

Dark Pool, a 9-year-old Cantab Hall gelding, is owned by his driver in partnership with trainer Paul Fusco. He paid $5.80 to win as the second choice.

The AHDC will return to action next Saturday (Dec. 24).