FLASH: "ANOTHER BIG WIN FOR THE ESPO/BENNETT BIRDS. TEXACO LOFT WINS THE GARDEN STATE OPEN (GSO) WITH AU 06 SI 2746 BB HEN, ESPO/BENNETT CROSS - HVR/HANSEENE. SINCE TEXACO LOFT ACQUIRED BIRDS FROM FRANK ESPOSITO AND RICHARD BENNETT HE HAS ACCUMULATED OVER 30,000 POINTS IN LOCAL FUTURITIES. BE PART OF A WINNING TEAM CALL FRANK AT 732-290-7885 AND RICHIE AT 732-495-4257 FOR AVAILABILITY. SEE OUR AD IN THE RACING PIGEON DIGEST CLASSIFIEDS."
Frank Esposito....My Racing History
This article was written by Charles Barbiere. It gives you an idea of who I am and what I have accomplished in the Sport of Racing Pigeons.
New Jersey Revisited - "Two Smoking Guns"
By Charlie Barbiere - Spring Hill, Florida
Continuing my visits to old friends, I would like to introduce two lofts that have flown very well and are unknown outside the Tri-State area. Getting information on these two lofts was a chore because they fly to win and don't seek any publicity. Here's their story:
Bennett & Son's Loft - Richie Bennett
At eight years old Richie Bennett found a pigeon in the street and that was his start with the birds. As a young man he had mainly homers and fancy birds switching over to racing pigeons. His first birds were the old Havenith strain, and then in 1969 he hit gold when he got Hansenne's from noted N.J. flyer Jimmy "Meatball" Bonvieco of Elizabeth, N.J. Jimmy Meatball and Mattie Daniels brought back these birds from Belgium after WWII. These birds were winning big races from 300-600 miles. This family was inbred for 11 generations.
In 1976 Richie got the best of the Huysken Van Riels form All-American Charlie Spatola. Charlie's Huskyns were direct from Dr. Whitney. Most of the HVR's are in the 531 lines. Spatola & Sons were flying as hot as a firecracker, winning everything in the NJ/NY area. Richie then crossed the Hanseenes with the HVRs and hit pay dirt. This family he breeds straight and crossed as they win from 100-600 miles. From 1966 to 1969 Richie flew partners with his cousin Glen and they won 41 X 1st during this 4 year period. Richie and Glen wound up flying together for 15 years until Glen moved.
Since 1969 Richie has won well over 250 1st place wins, not counting the many 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place positions shipping no more than 15 birds to a race. He flies the natural system and his hens are very tame, many mated to Richie himself. Richie is a devoted pigeon man and a strong competitor as I flew against him. Richie and I were two of the original members of the Bayshore Club which grew to 30 members strong, all top flyers. One day, during the time Richie and I trained together, we were driving my new Dodge van down the Pennsylvania Turnpike when we saw a flock of Geese in the distance. As we got closer, the flock took off and you can guess the rest as one found my new van.
Some of the birds that helped form this winning family are:
237 - HVR hen - Original HVR who was dam and grand dam to over 50 1st place winners.
960 - Hanseene cock - This cock bred many winners, as did his children.
"Wild Hen" - won 4 x 1st, 2 x 2nd at 500 miles.
721 Hen - One of my favorites, as I flew against this hen. She was 1st 150, 4th combine; 2nd 200, 16th combine; 1st 300, 5th combine; 1st 400, 1st 500, 2nd 150, 1st 500 Elizabeth one-bird derby, 2nd 500 Hoboken one-bird derby against NY & NJ. The sire of 721 was the "Old Chocolate Cock" who bred 19 winners and who is a son of 960. The dam of 721 was a daughter of 237.
Several flyers have done well with Richie's birds. Keep in mind that Richie only let a handful of birds out because his only interest is in flying. Some notables are: Frank "ESPO" Esposito - Scored big in special races with this blood including the Paterson Sprint Race winner. Texaco Loft, Staten Island - had 8 birds in the money in the Viola Race, 7 were of Richie's and Espo's bloodline. Joe Carasquillo of the Toms River Club. Richie set Joe up with birds as a gift and Joe won over 30 1st place wins. Joe had a granddaughter of 721 who was a 5 time winner to include a 2nd place in the Quaker City Combine flying 566 miles in this race. Other flyers who have won with these birds are Tom Davis, John Malazia, Don Zeal, Pigeon Hill Loft and Bill Daniels.
Richie's birds excel in the tough races and they love headwinds. The band races he won were: JBM, a 350 mile race, 76 lofts, 501 birds. 2nd in the MSI, 1st Elizabeth 500 mile derby, 2nd Hudson City 500 and in the Central Jersey Combine (CJC) Richie won combine average speed in both old and young birds two years in a row! Not to mention Richie flew three 500 mile races , on the same day, and won 1st MSI, 1st Bayshore Club and 2nd on the Ralph Montesano 500. Recently, in August 2004, Richie won 1st, 2nd and 5th at 100 miles in the Bayshore Club and will have high positions in the combine. Texaco Loft won a 1st and 2nd so far and his old pal Bob Matusewski won 2nd club in the Perth Amboy Club with Richie's stock.
Bennett & Son's Loft has flown with outstanding results for decades with a family he created and Richie will continue to win in the future.
Espo Loft - Frank Esposito
Espo, as he is called, started working with pigeons with his Dad in 1955. Leaving the sport a few years later, Espo restarted back in 1987 with birds from his cousin Espo Loft, Long Island, NY. He purchased HVR's from Fred Breezy who originally got the cream of Dan Buonagur, M&S Loft. Later birds were purchased from the world renowned writer Tom Smith who had the best of the Van Hee's. Finally, in 1995 he got birds from Richie Bennett. He blended these birds together to form a family that wins from 100-500 miles.
In the last 5 years Espo has been at the top 5% inn races he has flown in N.J. In 2002, Espo was 1st Capital City, 250 mile one-bird derby, 10 minutes ahead. 2nd MSI, 250 mile one bird derby and 1st LCM, 350 mile, one bird derby 15 minutes ahead. Out of 11 futurities flown Espo was no worse than 7th place in 9 of them. Espo had birds, in three different lofts for the Twin Towers Race and all of them were in the prizes. One of the birds prior to the race was a 3 x 1st place winner.
In 2003. Espo won the 250 mile Paterson Sprint race by 25 minutes. The sire was a 3 way cross and the dam was from Richie's stock. That same day, Espo shipped a 3 bird derby and won 1st and 2nd by 20 minutes. The following week Espo shipped the Perth Amboy futurity and too 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th by 5 minutes. Espo feels the best race he flew in 2003 was the 350 mile North Hudson Futurity (NHF) band race. On race day there were strong 30 mph SE winds, which were totally against him as he is on the South end. With only 25 day birds reporting, in the NHF, he clocked 9th, 10th, 11th and 14th.
Espo is a strong competitor and felt that the East Coast needed a good one-loft race and the East Coast Challenge (ECC) was born. He built a loft 48' long by 11' wide with 7 sections. The one loft has sliding doors, grated floors, front hallway and a 10' x 10' office. Complete with a computer, fax machine and his electronic clock set-up. On race day, Espo will have a large screen monitor under a tent so that entrants can view the race arrivals. In addition, the grounds are well maintained and the birds are in super health and condition. A credit to Espo's handling ability.
Richie Bennett of Bennett & Son's Loft is the official trainer for the ECC and Chris Hanzich, Tioga Loft, handles most of the technical aspects of the ECC. On a side note Chris got his birds from Espo and has done well with them himself. Tioga Loft's top positions include; 83rd Northeast Union, 250 miles, 6,883 birds; 36th Northeast Union, 250 miles, 6,448 birds; several top 2% combine positions in excess of 2,000 plus birds. Chris' best races were a 300 mile club race, 1st place by 27 minutes, a double winner at the 200 and 500 and a 2nd combine, all with Espo's stock.
In closing Richie Bennett and Frank Esposito are dedicated, hard working fanciers who let the birds do the talking. At time they can be very outspoken, but always stand up for what's right for the sport. It was well worth seeing two old Bayshore Club members and good luck in the future.