John Calabrese kept the ball rolling with a win at Cesena. For sure for the affable John it was his first on the soil of his ancestors. this win, coupled with his smile, brought him many female admirers, especially when they somehow heard that he owned five racetracks in the U.S.

In the next event, the Italians scored a 1-4 placing over a really slow half pulled off by an Italian wall built up front mirroring those built in ancient times. They could have waited no longer to spoil our fun but took the cruelest path to deflate the American plans for a victory party. It did not matter though because the Americans were treated so royally that if they had been beaten by 100 instead of by a mere six points.

Truthfully, the Americans were the big winners. With the care the Americans received from their hosts and friends, Stefano, Rafaello, Roberto Piergiovanni, and Daniele Ortello from amateur clubs from Venezia, Tuscano and Emiglia Romano ( Cesena), we certainly came out on top.

Two more days until home for the USA team and all the baggage will be jam packed and brimming over with fond memories of the good times and our friends, both old and new.

Coming next on the NAADA schedule will be friends from Torino arriving on U.S. soiled in Aug. Their mission is to compete and win some amateur races and see the famed Hambletonian. As Danile Orsini said, we need to keep ties between our countries, as Italy and America have a lot in common, like between Phillip Mazzei and Thomas Jefferson.

We must keep the game going at home and with our old Italian friends abroad.

Italian horsemen have a great spirit in keeping the game going when you learn that purse money is delayed by six or more months. Yet these dedicated people come to Lexington and Harrisburg and they proudly displayed their Chapter Sevens, Donato’s, Trixtons, and talked of the many others when displaying them. The American industry, as well as the global industry owes these people a lot.

Bona note Bella Italia for now and benvenuti from the U.S. to our guests coming from Torino.