by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — The long wait is over for avid amateur drivers. On Saturday night (April 28) a nine-horse trot will go to post at Pompano Park which will signal the start of the 31st season of the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship Series.

Last season Kelly “Sky” Walker won the Gold Cup Final raced at The Meadows when he rallied Rush N Supreme to a 2:28.4 victory in the 1-1/4 mile race over Celtic Merchant driven by fellow Michigander, Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford.

And for his outstanding season in the sulky, Walker, a nursery owner and farmer, was named the 2011 National Amateur Driver of the Year and he had the pleasure of representing the United States in the prestigious World Cup of Amateur Racing which took place this year in New Zealand in late January where he won a few races and made a fine showing.

The Silver Cup Final went to “Trader Bud” Hatfield when he hustled 25-1 shot Done Dreamen from sixth at the top of the stretch to a one length victory in a 2:33.2 clocking over the 1-1/4 mile distance. Hatfield, a longtime amateur driver, was the National Amateur Driver of the Year in 1998.

Billings president Tony “the Capo” Verruso was the points champion in the Eastern Region last year while Oldford, the series’ vice president, won the points title in the Midwest Region as well as the combined points category championship.

The first leg of this season’s seventh month driving series is carded as race number six on the Pompano Park nine-race card that evening.

Besides Verruso and Oldford, other stalwarts of the Billings Series who will be there to handle a spirited steed include two-time National Amateur Driver of the Year (2004 and 2005) Dein “The Jupiter Gem” Spriggs and “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo, who won top national honors in 1997.

Others slated to drive in the Billings trot on Saturday include John “Park Limo” Campagnuolo, Dave “Steady As” Yarock, Mike “the Mortgage Man” Mitchell, Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg, and “Steady Teddy” Bowman.

The C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series is unique in that drivers, not horses, are nominated for the competition although participating trotters must fit certain criteria to be eligible to race.

Each participating driver must be a member in good standing with the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association and licensed by either the USTA or Standardbred Canada and at the state or province where required.