by John Manzi, for the NAADA

Monticello, NY — Beginning Friday (Sept. 26), the North American Amateur Drivers Association’s Fall Trotting Series will kick off with a $5,000 event at Freehold Raceway followed by a $6,000 contest at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday (Oct. 2). The six-leg series will culminate with a $14,000 final at Yonkers Raceway on Nov. 6.

Besides the Sept. 26 date, two other trotting legs will also be contested at Freehold Raceway, on the Fridays of Oct. 10 and Oct. 24, and, if needed, the series consolation on Nov. 7.

Besides Oct. 2, the other Yonkers Raceway dates include the Thursdays of Oct. 16 and Oct. 30, as well as Nov. 6 for the series final.

Though there are criteria for the competing trotters, like the Billings Series, only the amateur drivers can be nominated to the NAADA Series and all entrants must be members of NAADA and drivers can participate in only one division of each leg of the series.

The drivers with the most points in the preliminary legs will be eligible to compete in the final.

Horses that are eligible must be 3-year-olds and up that had six or more starts in 2013-14, have earned a minimum of $1,000, are non-winners of $6,001 in their last six starts, and have not won more than $2,000 per start. Also eligible are trotters with a base claiming price of $15,000.

The series is open to all 2014 paid-up members of NAADA. Membership fee is $150 per calendar year.