by John Manzi, for the Billings and NAADA Series

Monticello, NY — Not since the rebirth of amateur racing in 1980 has the movement been more visual then it’s been this season. With the proliferation of amateur driving clubs races are not only afforded but have helped fill racing programs ever since wagering on the events has been nearly universal.

The granddaddy of all amateur racing is the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series which was followed closely by the North American Amateur Drivers Association.

Both organizations had races on the Sunday afternoon betting card at Saratoga Raceway — two Billings trots and one NAADA trot. And many of the drivers are members of both organizations. Billings winners included Simeon “Hot Rod” Hunsdon and “Coach Paul” Minore while “Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli emerged victorious in the NAADA event.

Hunsdon used the front-end to perfection in the first Billings trot when he gunned Shallow Hal to the lead from the four-hole and got away with a soft 1:01.2 first half. From there he turned the afterburners on and Shallow Hal trotted the final two stanzas in :58.4 to score an oh-so-easy 2:00.1 victory over Gimme The Loot who was in rein to “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo. Tony Ciuffetelli took home the show dough with Jelectric.

Richard Ruffles owns and trains the winner who returned $12.60 for win. For Hunsdon, an electrical contractor from nearby Fort Edward, N.Y., it was only his seventh drive this season and his second win. In his long amateur career, which began in 1985, Hunsdon has 81 driving victories.

The other Billings split went to Paul Minore, a former high school track coach from Yardville, N.J., whose most famous pupil was the great track and field star Carl Lewis. “The Coach” drove his own Wygant Prince to a head victory in a time of 1:59.1.

After being stung with a :28 first panel by “Bullet Bob” Davis and Montana Skies, Minore made the front-end and led the field by the halfway point in :57.4. They reigned supreme past the three-quarters in 1:28.2 and still had enough in the tank to hold off a fast charging Celebrity Stimulus and driver David “Poppa” Glasser by a head. Montana Skies held on to finish third.

Taylor Gower trains Wygant Prince who notched his fifth seasonal victory. He paid $18.20 for win. And for Minore it marked his 85th career driving victory.

Tony Ciuffetelli donned his NAADA hat when he drove his own Tagmaster to a gate-to-wire triumph in 1:58.3. Dismissed and sent off at odds of more than 43-1, the veteran Tagliabue gelding paid a whopping $88.50 for win.

Although she had a good two-hole trip with Jack’s Reef, Hannah Miller couldn’t gain on the leader and had to settle for second place. Bad I Am finished third for former National Amateur Driver of the Year Alan “the Intimidator” Schwartz.

It was Ciuffetelli’s second victory with Tagmaster since he secured ownership of the veteran 11-year-old Taglibue gelding in mid-August. The trotter previously gave former owner Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff three winning drives earlier this season.