by Joseph Faraldo, president, North American Amateur Drivers Association

The Fifth Magna Grecia is about to get underway here at the Hippodromo Paolo Sesto, named after the religious icon Pope Paul VI. Even our gorgeous Masseria in Crispiano (ancient farmhouse), at which we are very graciously housed, bears both mythical and religious connection. It is named Quis et Deus for Saint Micheal’s act of killing the devil and preserving the power of God.

The Masseria, great for a honeymoon, is surrounded by olive and fig trees (a necessary) and newly added swimming pool. It is remote, quiet and breathtaking, constructed in 1710 and refurbished in great taste and modern Italian style but with ancient Trulli acting as some of its quarters. All the work is accomplished by its owner, Antonio Prato, labeled here as a visionary. In this perfect pastoral setting there is no noise from traffic, airplanes or the various other sounds of a different form of “civilization.”

At the Hippodromo, we are greeted by my friend of 25 years, track owner Donato Corelli, who surrounds me in an Italian style bear hug. We are scurried off to the stable area where I renew an old friendship with Charlie Ferrugia from Malta. He races from the same scuderia or stable as my horse. We are an entry in the ten horse field that carries two trailers. The first five qualify to race against the first five in the all-Italian race, with the remainders excluded from the Championship and relegated to the Consolation.

I am determined to win everything. I have a good horse and the rail. Getting away in the two hole with a ton of horse and the two favorites hung two and three wide, I know how this is going to end — or so I thought.

Raging with trot in the hole at the three-quarter pole, my entrymate clears the Belgian girl and my pleas of “Charlie, Charlie” fall on deaf ears as he hooks my wheel, and I’m almost run over from behind. Luckily no one is hurt, but my grasp of first victory in my third try here evaporates into thin air. What an entry we turn out to be! The handy Roger Rosenkranz of Sweden, last year’s victor, hits the wire first.

Well, the consolation may prove to be a better opportunity and my last hope. I’ll have a heart to heart talk with Charlie, who seemed to take the mishap worse than me but as we all know that’s racing. There is still a camaraderie in the professional as well as the amateur racing world and over our sumptuous meal and fine Primitivo wine, made from grapes brought here by the Greeks centuries ago, we look forward to our Saturday rematch.

The North American amateur drivers have received future invites to Sicily, Malta, Palma de Mallorca and Taranto on this trip, and Russia and Belgium on the last. Invites have been extended to Torino, Taranto and France. Amateurs interested in joining in on these events should contact Joe Faraldo at faral@thorn.net.