AHDC makes donation to National Standardbred Horse Show

ALLENTOWN, N.J.— The American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC), an organization for amateur drivers that competes at harness racing tracks in the Northeast, made a donation on Sept. 20 to the National Standardbred Horse Show, an annual showcase of Standardbreds organized by the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey (SPHO-NJ).

Club president Anthony Verruso made the presentation for a donation worth $1,500 to Kelly Conn, the Membership and Points Secretary for the SPHO-NJ, during the National Standardbred Horse Show, which was held in Allentown, N.J. from Sept. 18 through Sept. 20 this year. The show annually celebrates the versatility of Standardbreds through events in dressage, driving, hunting and more.

“These horses are capable of so much off the track,” Anthony Verruso said, “and it’s important to me that we highlight organizations and events that give these horses those opportunities to shine. The SPHO-NJ has done incredible work in this field and we’re happy to support their mission.”

Members of the AHDC, as amateur drivers, do not compete for purse money. The driver’s share of earnings, typically five percent of money earned through purse-finish distribution, is instead retained for charitable donations through the club to support causes including racehorse aftercare, rehoming, cancer research and other aid for the various communities surrounding where the AHDC competes.

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC