by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Chris Hernandez is confident in the Cal Expo quartet when it comes to this weekend’s East-West Amateur Driver Challenge, while at the same time acknowledging that the visiting team represents a strong threat.

“I’ve seen all these drivers that are coming out here, and I believe this is the toughest group that we in California have ever faced,” Hernandez said when asked about the eight-race series that takes place over Friday and Saturday nights.

“I’ve seen Laura MacNamara race at Monticello, and Jamie Marra won the Billings Trot at Tioga Downs. I’ve watched Simeon Hundson drive at Harrah’s Chester, and Steve Oldford was the 2008 and 2010 CKG Billings combined points champion and has over 40 years in harness racing.”

Chris points out that just as with any sport, doing battle in your own backyard is preferred.

“The edge we have is the home field advantage, as well as driving our own bikes. That should level the playing field a bit.

“I know that the drivers coming out here show plenty of respect to other horsemen, but I also know that they didn’t fly all the way across the country to go home empty handed.”

In addition to Hernandez, the local team is made up of Robert Stepien, Rick Bertrand, and David Siegel, and they will take on the invading squad of Laura MacNamara, Steve Oldford, Jamie Marra and Simeon Hunsdon.

Laura MacNamara resides in upstate New York with her husband and two sons. When not busy with school and the usual family duties, she helps her husband with his equine veterinary practice. After 23 years of competing in combined training, Laura decided it was time to try something new with horses and began racing in the Billings series in 2010.

Simeon Hunsdon began his foray into the equine world when he owned a riding horse as a teenager. In 1976 he purchased and trained a harness horse for the first time. Shortly thereafter he starting driving in matinee races and in 1982 he joined the Billings. When not on the track, Simeon is an electrical contractor, and he and his wife formed Hour Electric Company, Inc.

Steve Oldford was born, raised and still lives in Michigan on a Standardbred horse farm where he races performers in that state and on the Grand Circuit. Steve has been involved with harness racing for some 40 years as a groom, trainer, breeder, owner and amateur driver. The owner of a manufacturer’s representative agency that specializes in automotive components, he has been married for 28 years and has three children.

Jamie Marra was born into the sport as his grandfather Jimmy was one of the founders of Batavia Downs in New York. Jamie is based at Pompano Park and was recently elected president of the Florida Amateur Driving Club and secretary of the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. He and his wife Paula have two girls.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (April 14) and continues through Saturday (April 16). Post time on Thursday is 5:30 p.m. (PDT). Post time on Friday and Saturday is 6 p.m. Starting this Thursday night, Cal Expo offers the Late Pick-4 with a $10,000 guaranteed pool, as part of the USTA’s Strategic Wagering program. The wager will be conducted on races six through nine and will be offered for four weeks. Further, the takeout for the Late Pick-4 will be lowered to 15 percent, as it will also be on the Early Pick-4.