by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Goshen, NY — George Munniksma has two wins in his amateur driving career, but there is no doubt which is most special.

Munniksma, a 63-year-old farmer from Washington, New Jersey, guided Mary Leemunn to a 1-1/4 length victory in a Catskill Amateur Drivers race at Historic Track on Friday (July 3). It was the first win of the season, in 14 starts, for the 4-year-old homebred pacing mare, which Munniksma owns with his daughter, Diana Horn.

The mare, trained by Kerin Warner, is named after Munniksma’s wife Mary and granddaughter Savannah Lee, who celebrated her 13th birthday on Thursday.

“This is the best win I’ve ever had,” said Munniksma, who could be seen waving his whip in the air as he crossed the finish line. “I raised this girl from a baby up. This is just awesome.”

In March, Munniksma got his first victory, in an American Harness Drivers Club event at Freehold Raceway. He has competed in 11 amateur races over the past two years.

Mary Leemunn and Munniksma were second at the three-quarter mark, behind Panna Nicole, before powering to the front through the stretch.

“I didn’t think she was going to sit in the pocket that long,” said Munniksma, who was born in the Netherlands. “I get a little anxious all the time. They kept telling me to relax; she can do it. It was a neat drive.

“This is a great place,” he added about Historic Track. “I’ve been to the Meadowlands, which is a lot of pressure, and Freehold. Here it feels like you’re out on the farm. The crowd is roaring. I’m really thrilled.”

Amateur drivers enjoyed the spotlight at Historic Track on Friday, along with five Landmark Stakes races for 3-year-old trotters and pacers.

Also winning Catskill Amateur Drivers events were Todd Whitney, who guided pacer Am I Next A to a 1:56.4 victory, and Scott Woogen.

Woogen found the winner’s circle again in a Billings Series race for amateur drivers. Also winning in the Billings were Steve Oldford and Don Hoover.

On Sunday, Oldford will be honored as the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame’s Amateur Driving Champion. The honor is awarded to the driver who donates the most driving fees to the museum during the fiscal year.