by Mitch Demick, for Hawthorne Racecourse

The second race on Sunday, June 24 will feature the traveling amateur driving show known as the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series. Since 1981, when the late, great ambassador of harness racing, Delvin G. Miller founded the Billings Series, drivers with a multitude of backgrounds have chased the starting gate, all in search of the first hand thrills of driving and racing trotters.

The format of the Billings series awards points to the drivers according to where they finish in the race. The better the finish, the more points registered. From early May to late November, more than 90 licensed amateurs will compete in either the east coast or mid-west circuits, respectively, all vying for an opportunity to race in the finals, Dec 8 at The Meadowlands.

Sunday’s $5,000 Billing’s race features current mid-west point’s leader, “Congenial” Gene Miller. Miller will guide the only mare entered in the six horse field, the 8-year-old Rompaway Ulaine. In her last start, a Billing’ race at Balmoral, “Ulaine” made up a ton of ground late to get third, but Miller thinks she can do better. “We got buried pretty good last week, but she came home nice when we found daylight,” Miller said.

The main competition to Rompaway Ulaine figures to come from All Sundon N and driver Dale “The Big Boss” Zahn. The veteran gelding figures to show the best gate speed, and may be tough to reel in, however Miller explains that this event is not always about the best horse. “My mare has no shot to beat All Sundon N, but I’ve got a huge shot to beat Dale,” said the jovial Miller. “But really, we’re all not in this only for the competition, but the camaraderie as well. We come from all over for these races and its nothing but fun.”

One of the most important elements of the Billing’s Series is the benefit it provides the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York. The drivers in the Billing’s do not receive compensations they can pocket, as one of the qualifications to compete, but they do donate their 5% driver’s share to The Harness Racing Museum. Peter Gerry, President of the Delvin Miller Amateur Driver’s Association says the museum takes in “between $25,000 and $40,000 a year.” Gerry himself competes in the Billing’s Series on the east coast and says these events become a part of you. “Racing becomes your daily existence, and to raise the kind of money we raise for the Hall of Fame, makes the Billings a great success.”