American Harness Drivers Club

11/16/2023

This past Saturday 11/11, The American Harness Drivers Club, The AHDC, Donated $5,000 to the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. Since the days of the Billings Amateur Series, Amateur Drivers have always been steadfast in their support for the Hall of Fame and the History of our great sport!!!!

Freehold, NJ — On a weekend where amateur driving clubs made many hefty donations to several charities, the American Harness Drivers Club also ponied a large sum for donation to the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y.

09/25/2023

The AHDC: American Harness Drivers Club made another $2,000 donation this week to the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of NJ. It was great to see old and current Standardbreds looking great and performing amazingly after and some still during their racing careers.

Amateur drivers continue to support the people and horses that make our sport great!!!

In the picture left to right: Taylor Ferguson, Shannon Wilson, Helene Gregory, Anthony Verruso, Destiny Sheard, Donna Marshall and Kelly Conn.

09/01/2023

The AHDC donated $2,000 to another awesome charity this week. The Standardbred Transition Alliance helps fund and maintain life after racing programs for our beloved horses. Our Amateur Driving Club will continue to support all worthy charities, especially those that help keep our horses healthy and useful in their lives after racing!!!!

https://ustrottingnews.com/ahdc-donates-to-standardbred-transition-alliance/

08/21/2023

https://ustrottingnews.com/calabrese-sheridan-beltrami-capture-philly-ahdc-events/

08/21/2023

We had another good day of racing today at Harrah's Philadelphia. We also started our third Tee Shirt giveaway of the year. If you need one, just ask when you see me, I try and keep some in the truck at all times!!!

08/14/2023

After donating $2,000 to The American Cancer Society a couple of weeks ago, the AHDC was back at it again today donating $2,000 to The V Foundation!!!!

Chester, PA — The American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC), in its ongoing mission to help communities and communities in need, presented another donation aimed at cancer prevention and research on Sunday (August 13) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

07/20/2023

Thanks to the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association, Sam Beegle, Mike Harant and Joe Zambito: the AHDC - American Harness Driver's Club donated $2,000 to The American Cancer Society today!!! It is an honor to be part of a group that is helping to fight this terrible disease!

04/22/2023

AHDC Donates To Aftercare

By Ray Cotolo, for AHDC



FREEHOLD, N.J. – The American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC), in its pursuit to give back to the sport its participants love, presented a donation for racehorse aftercare following the seventh race at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon (April 22).



AHDC President Anthony Verruso led a winner’s circle presentation of $2,000 to New Vocations, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on giving second homes to retired Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds and other breeds of horse.



“The AHDC is proud to help support the relocation of racehorses after their racing careers are over,” said Anthony Verruso. “We would not be here if not for these horses. As participants of this sport, we are committed to giving back to racing and the local community.”



The AHDC is a club for amateur harness racing drivers. As amateurs, the drivers donate their five-percent share of purse winnings towards charities like New Vocations and others either within harness racing or which serve the local community.



-30-



PHOTOS: AHDC President Tony Verruso joined in the winner’s circle for a presentation of $2,000 to New Vocations (Photo Credit: Vicki Wright / World Wide Racing Photo)

04/22/2023

Calabrese, Beltrami Take Top AHDC Billing

By Ray Cotolo, for AHDC



FREEHOLD, N.J.— John Calabrese overhauled his competitors and Tony Beltrami threw the hammer down early to take their respective divisions of the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon (April 22).



Calabrese floated away fourth with Brownie while Big Sky Sumo (driven by Jim King Solomon) led the field by a :29 first quarter. Big Sky Sumo broke stride as Calabrese pulled off the pegs with Brownie to a :59.2 half and swooped to seize the lead.



Brownie grabbed command from pocket-sitter Masster Blue (Anthony Verruso) up the backstretch and extended to a two-length lead past three-quarters in 1:29.2. His advantage only widened in the lane and he crossed the beam 5-1/4 lengths better than Masster Blue with King Cast (Yogi Sheridan) sitting a pylon trip for third and My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) taking fourth.



Pierre Paradis conditions Brownie, a 7-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding, for owner Daniel Dube. He paid $10.80 to win.



In the other AHDC Trot, Tony Beltrami barreled to the top from post 7 with All Rise and took control past a :28.3 first quarter from Call Me Thefireman (Anthony Verruso). All Rise then withstood a first-over push from 2-5 favourite Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) through a :59 half and to three-quarters in 1:28.4. Lionhead continued digging into All Rise through the lane, but the tempo setter held firm and wrapped the mile in 1:59.3 and 1-1/2 lengths to the good. Spunkin’srocketman (John Calabrese) finished third and Big Sky Ex (Jim King Solomon) closed for fourth.



Ed Quevedo trains All Rise, a 6-year-old Conway Hall gelding, for owner Tony Beltrami. He paid $25.20 to win.



AHDC action returns to Freehold Raceway next Friday (April 28) with the $9,000 AHDC Pace. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).



-30-



PHOTOS: Brownie with John Calabrese and All Rise with Tony Beltrami winning their respective divisions of the AHDC Trot (Photo Credit: Vicki Wright / World Wide Racing Photos)

12/19/2022

American Harness Drivers Club, AHDC, donates $5,000 to Harness Racing Hall of Fame & Museum!!!

Freehold, NJ — Aside from putting on exciting, hard-to-predict races, amateur drivers consider themselves ambassadors of the game. Part of that mantra is to help preserve the history of harness racing, and there is no better way of doing that than to contribute to the Harness Racing Museum and Hal...

04/14/2022

On Saturday 4/09, it was Dark Pool and John Calabrese surging up to win the AHDC Trot at Freehold.

03/27/2022

Joe Lee driving Allindotime put the swoop to the group of AHDC trotters at Freehold Raceway on Saturday March 26th!!!