Pompano Beach, FL — Don Cromer, Gary Barbere and Brian Calvert were the driving stars in their respective Florida Amateur Driving Club events on Sunday (Jan. 30) and Monday (Jan. 31) as each celebrated a milestone of sorts in their respective careers in the sulky.

With the FADC only hosting three or four events weekly, Cromer won a Sunday trot with his newly acquired Muay Hanover in 1:59.4 giving him his 500th career driving victory. Cromer drove his first winner in the mid-1970s and has only sparingly appeared in the sulky since 1997. It was his first win since 2019 and only his second since 2010 with but a handful of drives.

Muay Hanover is an 8-year-old gelded son of Donato Hanover and now has earnings of $179,311. He paid $4.80 to win.

It took a couple of weeks to do it, but driver Gary Barbere got a driving triple with his own P L Jerico, trained by 86-year-old Odell Thompson. This 9-year-old altered son of Manofmanymissions won on Sunday in 1:58.1, wiring his foes in the process. Not only was this his third straight win for Barbere, it was a milestone 25th lifetime win for P L Jerico, who paid $4.20 to his multitude of faithful.

Ricky Be Sharp, driven by Brian Calvert, won his second straight amateur event at Pompano Park on Monday night. Jessica Hallett photo.

On Monday night, Brian Calvert was back in the winner’s circle with Ricky Be Sharp, trained by Donna Riedel for owner Johanna Calvert. The 6-year-old gelded son of American Native made it two in a row for Calvert as January closed the books with a 1:57.4 mile, rallying from fifth turning for home to score by a neck. It was also the second win of the year for Ricky Be Sharp, who has won an amazing 35 times in his career measuring 79 starts. Ricky Be Sharp paid $16.20 to win as fourth choice in the betting.

Of course, the real winners in these FADC events are the many charities that benefit from the drivers donating 100 percent of their earnings while driving in these races, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, New Vocations, Bit By Bit and others benefiting horse adoption agencies and the welfare of the young. Thus far, they have donated more than $220,000 since their inception.