by John Manzi, for the Catskill Amateur Drivers Club

Monticello, NY — The Catskill Amateur Drivers Club will be offering a Spring Pacing Series which will begin at Monticello Raceway on May 29 and continue on the Wednesdays of June 5, 12 and 19 with the final and consolation slated for June 26.

Then on Saturday (July 6) a Catskill Amateur Pace will be presented at Historic Track during their Grand Circuit meet.

According to CADC president Gerry Fielding, each of the preliminary legs will go for a $3,300 purse with a $5,000 purse on the line in the final. Should a consolation fill the purse for that event will be $3,300.

The series is for pacers, 3-year-olds and older who are non-winners of $250 per star in their last six starts but if they earned more than $20,000 during 2012 they would not be eligible. However, any horse that has raced for a basic claiming tag of no more than $5,000 in their last three starts will also be eligible to compete.

The CADC Series is open to all amateur drivers who are members in good standing with the Catskill Amateur Drivers Club; are at least 18 years old; and are licensed by either the USTA or Standardbred Canada as a “P” or “A” driver.

Drivers competing in the CADC races will be assessed a $50 starting fee per race entry. The starting fee for the final will be $100.

Points will be awarded using the European Point System and only the drivers with the most points will be eligible for the series final.

George Brennan, one of the top harness drivers in the world, and Jordan Stratton, Monticello Raceway’s leading dash-winning driver during the 2008 campaign, both got their start as members of the Catskill Amateur Drivers Club as did many others including Jimmy Taggart, Jr., Greg Merton and Mike Merton, to name a few.

For a full list of the series conditions, or for further information, please e-mail Fielding at trotski@verizon.net.