by John Manzi, for the Billings Series

Monticello, NY — Although you couldn’t tell by the recent weather, summer is right around the corner and as the weather gets warmer the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series also heats up. This weekend there will be five races contested at three different tracks in the ‘Grand Circuit of Amateur Racing.’

On Friday at Yonkers Raceway, two Billings splits in the Eastern Region will go to post prior to the first race on the betting card. Then on Saturday at Raceway Park one nine-horse Midwestern division is carded. The following day Billings Eastern Region drivers will convene at Buffalo Raceway for two contests — one a trot and the other a pace.

Actually this year the Billings Series didn’t get underway until June 5 with two races at Monticello followed by one trot at Scioto Downs on June 7. Now almost weekly there will be Billings events through October.

On the strength of their victories at Monticello Raceway both Alan “the Intimidator” Schwartz and Tony “the Capo” Verruso are tied for the point lead in the Eastern Region. “Trader Bud” Hatfield’s triumph at Scioto Downs leaves him atop the Midwest division leaderboard.

“We have changed the Billings this season with hopes to get more participation,” noted Billings president Tony Verruso. “We have four different mini-series, two in each region, with their own separate finals.”

However, the Billings Series will again culminate with the Delvin Miller Memorial Gold, Silver and Bronze Cup championships. This year they’re slated at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Nov. 24).