by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — It isn’t a part of the C.K.G. Billings annual amateur driving series, which has been in existence since the early 1980s, but the Billings Trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (March 17) was a race for longtime Billings members and sort of a prelude to the actual competition that usually start in late April or early May.

Led by Billings president Tony “the Capo” Verruso and abetted by the folks at Freehold, a Billings Trot, carded as race three on St. Patrick’s Day, saw David “Steady As” Yarock wire the field with Rompaway Alvin and score a 1:59.2 triumph in the process. The margin of victory for the 7-year-old Dream Vacation gelding was three lengths.

Second place went to Ace Hill Hall in rein to “Roundhouse Rob” Krivelin and president Verruso took home the show dough with Sam’s Honeybee.

Rompaway Alvin, owned by Yarock, paid $6.20 for win.

“There’s a good chance we may have more Billings preliminaries this spring before the actual competitions get underway,” Verruso noted. “With this warm weather many of the guys are champing on the bit and looking to get back in the sulky.”