sq764
05-14-2003, 12:34 PM
For those of you sick of hearing about Santos, here is a Harness Racing equivalent of sorts..
Published in the Asbury Park Press 5/14/03 By NINA RIZZO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP -- Harness driver-trainer Anthony Nunziata said yesterday
he is going to tell New Jersey Racing Commission judges today that he was
attacked by Hall of Fame driver Mike Lachance after accusing Lachance and
other drivers of fixing a race.
Lachance and other drivers will tell a much different story, that Nunziata is
a bush-league sore-loser who needs medical help for his on-track rage and
that any accusations of race-fixing are ludicrous and vicious.
The New Jersey Racing Commission judges today will hear both versions of what
happened after the second race at Freehold Raceway Saturday when Nunziata and
Lachance got into an altercation in the paddock.
Witnesses told police Saturday that Nunziata, 59, of Jackson Mills Road,
Freehold Township, struck Lachance in the head with a helmet, creating a gash
that required 15 stitches. Nunziata was charged with aggravated assault and
released from police custody on $1,000 bail.
Nunziata said he filed aggravated assault charges against Lachance, 52,
Sweetmans Lane, Millstone, and his son, Pat, as well as the three other
drivers who were in the paddock.
Nunziata said a "feud" between Lachance and Nunziata began two months ago,
when Nunziata accused Lachance of "brutalizing" and intentionally holding
back Nunziata's horse during a race at the Meadowlands. He said Lachance
promised retribution after Nunziata called him a thief. Lachance called the
accusation ridiculous.
"I drove a horse this winter for him at the Meadowlands and after the race he
went wild, he wanted to fight,"Lachance said. "The paddock judge told him to
get out of the paddock. He's got a feud with everybody."
The two did not meet again until after the second race Saturday when
Nunziata's horse Sonny N Matt finished third as the overwhelming favorite at
odds of 4-5. The race was won by Sundowner Bobcat, at odds of 30-1. The
longshot daily double (with the winner of the first race, Itswritteninstars,
at odds of 8-1) paid an unexpectedly low $77.20.
"When I saw the (payout for the daily) double I was angry." Nunziata said.
"I've been in this business a long time. I know what's fixed and what's not
fixed."
According to driver Cat Manzi, right after the race, Nunziata started arguing
with him, claiming Manzi impeded his chances of winning. Manzi's horse,
Johnny Black, finished seventh at 4-1.
Nunziata walked into the drivers' room and recalled saying, "You're all a
bunch of crooks. That's why the industry is in trouble. You're deceiving the
public."
Nunziata said he noticed Lachance standing there and said: "You're the
biggest thief of them all."
Lachance said: "He is calling drivers names and kicking lockers. I said,
'Calm down.' He was acting crazy. Everybody was petrified. You should have
seen his eyes, he was like a madman."
According to Nunziata, it was Lachance who placed Nunziata in a headlock.
Nunziata said he accidentally struck Lachance in the head while they were
struggling. While the men were washing up, a security guard came in and asked
them to go to his office.
As Nunziata was walking down the stairs with the guard, Lachance and his son,
Pat, attacked him from behind. Nunziata said he was kicked in the back and
face and lost a tooth. Lachance denies the accusation.
The stairwell altercation was not part of the original police report.
Nunziata said last night he was prepared to tell the judges about the race
fixing and other unethical practices.
"Tomorrow I will open up a can of worms," he said. "Freehold will close down
by the time I'm done."
Published in the Asbury Park Press 5/14/03 By NINA RIZZO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP -- Harness driver-trainer Anthony Nunziata said yesterday
he is going to tell New Jersey Racing Commission judges today that he was
attacked by Hall of Fame driver Mike Lachance after accusing Lachance and
other drivers of fixing a race.
Lachance and other drivers will tell a much different story, that Nunziata is
a bush-league sore-loser who needs medical help for his on-track rage and
that any accusations of race-fixing are ludicrous and vicious.
The New Jersey Racing Commission judges today will hear both versions of what
happened after the second race at Freehold Raceway Saturday when Nunziata and
Lachance got into an altercation in the paddock.
Witnesses told police Saturday that Nunziata, 59, of Jackson Mills Road,
Freehold Township, struck Lachance in the head with a helmet, creating a gash
that required 15 stitches. Nunziata was charged with aggravated assault and
released from police custody on $1,000 bail.
Nunziata said he filed aggravated assault charges against Lachance, 52,
Sweetmans Lane, Millstone, and his son, Pat, as well as the three other
drivers who were in the paddock.
Nunziata said a "feud" between Lachance and Nunziata began two months ago,
when Nunziata accused Lachance of "brutalizing" and intentionally holding
back Nunziata's horse during a race at the Meadowlands. He said Lachance
promised retribution after Nunziata called him a thief. Lachance called the
accusation ridiculous.
"I drove a horse this winter for him at the Meadowlands and after the race he
went wild, he wanted to fight,"Lachance said. "The paddock judge told him to
get out of the paddock. He's got a feud with everybody."
The two did not meet again until after the second race Saturday when
Nunziata's horse Sonny N Matt finished third as the overwhelming favorite at
odds of 4-5. The race was won by Sundowner Bobcat, at odds of 30-1. The
longshot daily double (with the winner of the first race, Itswritteninstars,
at odds of 8-1) paid an unexpectedly low $77.20.
"When I saw the (payout for the daily) double I was angry." Nunziata said.
"I've been in this business a long time. I know what's fixed and what's not
fixed."
According to driver Cat Manzi, right after the race, Nunziata started arguing
with him, claiming Manzi impeded his chances of winning. Manzi's horse,
Johnny Black, finished seventh at 4-1.
Nunziata walked into the drivers' room and recalled saying, "You're all a
bunch of crooks. That's why the industry is in trouble. You're deceiving the
public."
Nunziata said he noticed Lachance standing there and said: "You're the
biggest thief of them all."
Lachance said: "He is calling drivers names and kicking lockers. I said,
'Calm down.' He was acting crazy. Everybody was petrified. You should have
seen his eyes, he was like a madman."
According to Nunziata, it was Lachance who placed Nunziata in a headlock.
Nunziata said he accidentally struck Lachance in the head while they were
struggling. While the men were washing up, a security guard came in and asked
them to go to his office.
As Nunziata was walking down the stairs with the guard, Lachance and his son,
Pat, attacked him from behind. Nunziata said he was kicked in the back and
face and lost a tooth. Lachance denies the accusation.
The stairwell altercation was not part of the original police report.
Nunziata said last night he was prepared to tell the judges about the race
fixing and other unethical practices.
"Tomorrow I will open up a can of worms," he said. "Freehold will close down
by the time I'm done."