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American Traveling: It's a Small World After All
Frank Greenhall

In this day of electronic communication, cell phones and instant access, I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised at how truly small our world has become while I was in Lafayette at the Texas Center Convention. It was in Lafayette that I met an individual who lives about one hour from where I work and grew up in a neighborhood close to mine some 50 years ago. I couldn't help but notice this individual as he was in constant motion interacting with everyone, out late into the evening, yet still up before the crack of dawn starting all over again. It was with great pleasure that I met Frank Esposito from Morganville, New Jersey, and I am sure that our paths will cross many more times in the future.

Frank grew up in Brooklyn, while I grew up in an area of Queens only separated from Brooklyn by a narrow canal. He visited many of the same pigeon locations I did as a kid, and his father flew pigeons against many of the flyers I tried to hang out with and clean their lofts so I might get a few eggs or youngsters to add to my collection of fancy birds. Unlike Frank, I didn't have any family members interested in pigeons, so I was on my own, where he had his father and cousin to assist him. In fact, his father was a World War II pigeoneer for the U.S. Army. Still while he and his father flew as partners and I by myself, we both began in pigeons at about the same age and time. Flashing forward a mere 47 years, here are two individuals from basically the same area currently and as kids interacting in Lafayette, Louisiana. It is as Walt Disney says, "a small world after all."

During our conversations and interactions, Frank invited me to visit his lofts during his East Coast Challenge One-Loft Series. Unfortunately for me I was already committed to another event the day of the final race, but I was able to get to attend the next to last race of the series, and what I saw, heard and witnessed convinced me that in Frank Esposito we have an individual of unlimited energy, a promoter of our sport and as honest an individual you will ever meet.

Even though the day I was there was not the "big" race of the series, there were numerous "pigeon guys" in the backyard to see the birds return home.

While Frank had been competing in local races from his early days, it was in 2002 that he put into action his concept of running a one-loft race. By 2004 he decided to send out his own youngbird team to out-of-area races and competed in 15 one-loft and futurity races, placing in the top 10% in 10 of these races, and a change in his active flying began. For Frank it was both a financial decision and a way to put all his energies into his East Coast Challenge One-Loft Race.

He had attended a big one-loft race in Las Vegas and returned to New Jersey excited about the possibilities of having a similar race on the East Coast. He gives Mike Ganus a lot of credit for getting him off to a good start by giving Frank a number of contacts that would be interested in being part of the one-loft race. With these names and other contacts, Frank has never looked back.

I was immediately impressed when I walked into Frank's backyard by the thought, work and maintenance put into his lofts and the loft for the one-loft race. The birds have a home to truly love and race home to. The lofts were absolutely immaculate and dust free. The loft itself is 48' long and has a 4' hallway in the front with wooden grating that can be used for so many things including a safe place for the birds to bathe. The entire front of the loft is covered with wire allowing for an open-air loft yet with the comforts of a loft closed up as his divider between the hall and sections is solid up to about 4 feet.

The sections for the birds themselves have solid plywood floors and are 7' deep, lined with box perches in much greater number than the birds housed in the loft. Frank mentioned he uses the wood floor (which is cleaned daily) because it doesn't allow drafts, holds heat and most importantly allows him to continuously monitor the birds' droppings. Of course this statement about monitoring droppings led right into a conversation about health, training and feed, etc.

Frank has his own health program, which he had developed by successfully racing his own birds over the years. When birds initially arrive for the Challenge Races, Frank immediately "chips" them for inventory purposes and then isolates them in a holding section for 7 to 10 days during which he treats them for worms, canker and coccidiosis, as well as vaccinating them for PMV, pox and paratyphoid. After their time in the holding pen, they are introduced to their competition in the other sections of the loft.

Frank takes advantage of the services of an outstanding pigeon racer and veterinarian, Dr. John Kasmierczak, should he have any issues or questions. Between the loft setup, the health program, Dr. Kasmierczak's input and Esposito's feeding and supplement program, the birds shine like diamonds. It should be noted that Frank manages the birds feeding, cleaning and training by himself, and all the entries are treated like they are his own. Frank spares no costs using the highest quality feed available and supplementing it with top supplements, imported grits and minerals.

He believes that the true keys to success are excellent health, good pigeons and well-trained pigeons. Thus by keeping the birds healthy and training them extensively, he allows the outstanding fanciers in his race to have a true shot at winning. The birds entered in the East Coast Challenge One-loft race get 70 to 80 tosses between early July to the first week in October ranging from one mile in the beginning up to 200 miles a few days prior to the first race of the series. The training is done in a training truck that holds up to 32 48" x 32" metal crates with wire mesh floors. The truck, like his lofts, is well ventilated and even is equipped with a thermostatically controlled exhaust fan when the truck is stopped or not forcing air through by motion.

The race series for 2008 has been modified by having one less race in the series, but the 350-mile station will still be the last and biggest payout of the series. Frank chose this distance because of its difficulty for the birds and in the belief that the quality of the birds entered, his health program and his training regime will bring the cream to the top. So far in the history of his competition, he has been correct. This year the birds flew 200-, 250-, 300- and 350-mile races with an additional average speed prize for the top 10 birds based on all the races.

Of interesting note, there is no pooling in the Espo's East Coast Challenge Races; there are no calcuttas and all birds are returned to the owners at the end of the competition. Frank believes this keeps all competitors local and from across the country on an equal plane and avoids issues he has witnessed at other races.

14,000 points were paid to the 200-mile top 20 finishers, 17,500 points paid to the 250-mile top 20 birds, 25,500 points paid to the top 20 racers from the 300-mile race and 42,040 points to the top 37 birds and 36,000 points for the top 10 average speed birds for a grand total of 135,040 points overall.

Lou Arcuri won the 200-mile segment; Mike Ganus the 250-mile race, Danny Hutchins the 300, and 22 birds split the points for the first 22 positions equally because of 22 birds on the drop. That's right folks, 22 birds on the drop from 350 miles! LK Corral won the average speed champion bird award having been 3rd, 5th, 2nd, 8th equal first on the last race. George Rankin had birds 2nd and 5th, and Quest Syndicate placed 6th and 8th. Richard Gilenski, Ganus Family Loft, Gene Williams, Paul Walsh and McCarthy Glover finished out the top 10 champion (average speed) positions.

Next year, as I mentioned earlier, the race format will be adjusted to a 3-race series of 250-, 300- and 350-mile races. The entry fee will be $1,500 which includes two primary entries and three backup birds and perch fee.

Following the 100-mile training toss, backup birds may be activated if necessary for the races. Frank welcomes the participants to join him waiting for birds and take part in the feasts he puts together for those in attendance.

Having been to many races and seeing the formats, condition of birds and the hard work and enthusiasm of the handler, I can state without hesitation that Espo's East Coast Challenge is by far the best run and handled I have ever seen, and for this reason I am entering a team for 2008. Yes, it is a small world, and I am glad, because in Louisiana I found a new friend in my own backyard.