by John Manzi, for the Billings Series

Monticello, NY — The C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series may have gotten underway a bit later than usual this season but now the lengthy series for amateur drivers is in full swing, attested by the fact that there were six races at three different racetracks this past weekend.

“On Friday we had two races at Yonkers and two races each at both Raceway Park and Buffalo Raceway,” noted Tony “the Capo” Verruso, the president of the Billings Series. “All the races went off without a hitch and a good time was had by all who attended, even with the muddy track at Buffalo Raceway on Sunday.”

The long weekend began on Friday night (June 15) in at Yonkers Raceway where Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and “Bullet Bob” Davis prevailed in their respective Eastern Region divisions.

Oldford scored a romping 11 length triumph in 1:58.3 with Magglio over Sir Kensington and Harvey “Doc” Stein. Third place went to Rodeo Red and “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo.

The other split saw series newcomer “Bullet Bob” Davis use the front end route with Dancin Thea to eke-out a neck victory over Nowerland Nathan and Dave “Steady As“ Yarock in a time of 2:00.3. Alan “the Intimidator” Schwartz was third best with Get Chipped.

On Saturday in Midwest Region action, the Billings contests were at Raceway Park where Joseph “JJ” Miller scored an easy two length victory with 11-1 shot Keep Your Shirt On in a time of 2:00.4 in the first of the two Billings splits there. Beauty Chip, who was handled by another series newcomer, Richard “the Wolverine” Roach, was second best while “Tiny Tim” Miller took home the show dough with Celebrity Ferrari.

In the other split, Kelly “Sky” Walker, the 2011 National Amateur Driver of the Year, scored an easy four length victory with Sand Montana in a 1:59 clocking when they zipped by the pacesetter Harper Marie and driver Tim Miller as they approached the finish line. The Steve Oldford-driven Outer Drive Girl also passed Harper Marie in the deep stretch to finish second. Harper Marie did hang on for third money for “Tiny Tim.”

n Sunday the battling Billings boys, again in Eastern Region action, ventured to Buffalo Raceway and in the pouring rain Bobby “Rapid Rail” Krivelin and “Dynamite Dave” Drew prevailed in their respective divisions.

Krivelin, last season’s National Amateur Driver of the Year, scored behind D J Supreme despite being parked to the half. Krivelin’s pacer held off a fast closing Cinderella Story and driver Howie “the Horse” Gelfand to win by 1-1/2 lengths in a 2:03 clocking. “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo took home the show dough with Bobsuiak.

In the second split, “Dynamite Dave” sat a perfect two hole journey behind “Bullet Bob” Davis and Armbro Chaperon and then whisked by them in the lane to score in a 2:05.2 clocking. In the deep stretch, “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo hustled Clearly Possessed up for second money as Armbro Chaperon faded and finished third.

“A nice thing about the Billings this past weekend was that most of the horses that competed in all six races were not driven by their owners,” Verruso added. “I think that made for better competitions.”