by John Berry, for Pompano Park and the Florida Amateur Driving Club

Pompano Beach, FL — Pompano Park was the Sunday night (April 22) site of the Hennessey-Ingraham Pro-Am event, sponsored by the Florida Amateur Driving Club.

The highly competitive — yet friendly — event featured two races with captains Wally Hennessey and Dave Ingraham each having four FADC amateur members with Hennessey’s team capturing the event 64-58.

Hall of Famer Hennessey vaulted his team to the narrow victory by winning both of the events in which he drove, accounting for 30 of his team’s 64 points.

Skip Smith photo

Members of the Florida Amateur Driving Club joined Wally Hennessey, Dave Ingraham and Kelly Case in the winner’s circle while presenting checks to three worthy charitable organizations on Sunday.

Hennessey guided Cashallic to a narrow win in the opener, holding Bad I Am, driven by Ingraham, safe by a neck in 1:58. Tony Dinges (Team Ingraham) finished third with Love Hunter while Robert Krivelin, handling Kabo (Team Hennessey) was fourth. Leon Cable (Team Ingraham) was fifth with Pinky The Intern and when the scores were tallied, Team Hennessey had a slim lead of 31-30.

The final event saw Hennessey winning with Its Payday Friday by 8-1/2 lengths in 1:57.4 over the 100-1 shot Bad Cantab, driven by Billy Muggleston (Team Ingraham). Joe Pennacchio (Team Hennessey) was third with Zorgwijk Impact while James Quinn (Team Hennessey) was fourth with Alfredo Dream. Steve Oldford (Team Ingraham) picked up the nickel with The Budster and when all results were tallied, Hennessey’s team had that six point edge.

After the event, Hennessey, Ingraham and the amateur drivers gathered in the winner’s circle to make three charitable donations while edging close to the $200,000 mark.

Marla Berger was in attendance to receive the FADC donation to Tomorrow’s Rainbow, recognized as the premier resource for grieving children, teens and their families. In making the presentation, Hennessey said, “This is such an important organization that actually guides children back to joy after suffering something traumatic. It’s great to be a small part of their mission.”

In accepting the donation, Berger, who is Program Director for Tomorrow’s Rainbow, said, “Actually, I’m pretty speechless right now. There are really no sufficient words of thanks to the Amateur Driving Club for their generosity through the years. This, truly, is a great night for us.”

Dave Ingraham and Kelly Case were also on hand to make presentations to The Christian Harness Horsemen’s Association and Rockin T Equine Sanctuary and Rescue. The CHHA is now in its 35th year of reaching out to the harness racing community under the direction of Chaplain Lee Alphen. The Rockin T Equine Sanctuary houses sick, elderly and rejected horses, as well as other animals, with a core team of veterinarians, farriers and caretakers while providing well deserved comforts to their “residents.”

Ingraham said, “To see what the FADC does for so many worthwhile charities is very heartwarming and so much needed, especially after many of these horses have given so much to us on the racetrack.”

Kelly Case then put her emphatic “Amen” on the evening saying, “This is what we are all about!”

FADC President Dein Spriggs closed the festivities by saying, “We couldn’t have accomplished what we have done without the cooperation of Pompano Park and their grand staff. And for Wally (Hennessey) and Dave (Ingraham) to participate makes it a very special night.”