by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Although they gain maximum enjoyment from the competition and thrill of the race, the Florida Amateur Drivers Club members are also turning an increasing amount of attention to their ongoing humanitarian role for charitable causes with the arrival of the holiday season imminent.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Joe Pennacchio teamed Genesis Priority to victory in 2:00 in the Florida Amateur Driving Club trot on the Dec. 14 program.

“Anyone that joins is a committed supporter of harness racing and the by-laws of the amateur clubs mandate that we forego the usual five percent (of racing purse money earned) in driving commissions and give that to charity,” explains Joe Pennacchio.

“As for being out on the track tonight with the temperature barely at 40 degrees, well you don’t notice the cold when you’re on the track or in a race. You do feel the cold though when you’re on the backstretch or going back to the paddock. But the rush of driving a horse trumps everything,” he said in a live trackside TV interview after teaming claiming trotter Genesis Priority to victory in the third race on the Tuesday evening (Dec. 14) program.

Pennacchio also explains it’s an important time for the FADC board and membership.

“The Florida club, as I presently know it, has been in existence for about 15 years, and soon it will be time for the board and membership to decide which charitable causes we’ll be giving to,” he says. “We tend to lean toward clubs where there are horses involved for disabled children or where horses can be of theraptuic help for kids and young adults.

“In most cases, our membership is comprised of people from all walks of life outside racing. Combining the opportunity to drive horses, promote our sport, and help charities is a great fit. That’s why hardly anyone ever leaves the amateur driving club after they’ve joined,” he adds. “And in turn those involved with the receiving charities get a great first impression and exposure to harness racing, so it’s a win-win situation.”

The Artandi Factor

Although he got a late start at the meet, trainer Tom Artandi has made an immediate impact by returning for victory photographs with his first two starters.

On the Monday (Dec. 13) program, 3-year-old gelding trotter Matthew Hanover was a flawless and favored front end winner, followed on the Tuesday program by a similarly dominant effort by 3-year-old pacing filly Blind To See.

Both were making their first pari-mutuel starts since Artandi took over their ownership and training.

Esmeralda romps again

With the scratch of Witch Trials the field was reduced to six starters for Tuesday’s $12,000 winners over feature for the top mares at the meet in South Florida.

Heavily favored Esmeralda Semalu sat back fifth in the opening half as Nillabomb, in rein to Joshua Sutton, was parked and pressured to the half in :56. Just past the third marker in 1:24, Joe Pavia, Jr. had his stable stalwart swooping to the front and drawing away to stop the clock in 1:53.2. The daughter of Electric Stena-Anelone Semalu races for the BJR and AGC Stables of Boca Raton and Highland Beach, Fla.

Pavia has indicated that the career winner of 31 races and $398,895 will be bred to a stallion in either New York or Pennsylvania early in 2011.

On Wednesday (Dec. 15), an 11-race card turns to the gate including the $12,000 weekly trotting feature. Post time is 7:05 p.m. (EST) each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Winter Capital of Harness Racing. Next week, a live program will be staged on Thursday, Dec. 23, and there is no live racing on Saturday, Dec. 25.