by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers’ Association

Monticello, NY — Over the past two days the weather was steamy as was the Billings action over the double ovals at the county fairs.

At the Richland County Fair in Mansfield, Ohio, on August 7, “Tar Heel Tom” Williams and Kathryn “High Flyin” Hawk each scored Midwest Region victories while the following day, August 8, at the Schoharie County Sunshine Fair, in Cobleskill, N.Y., Rob “Rapid Rail” Krivelin and Guy “the Watervliet Barrister” Roemer both enjoyed trips to the winner’s circle in Eastern Region competition.

After driving his sixth winner in this year’s Billings competition, Tom Williams is keeping the pressure on the Midwest Region’s point leader “Congenial Gene” Miller, who was absent at Mansfield. Williams is now just two points behind Miller and there’s sure be a race to the finish for top honors in that region.

Williams reined Callico Cat to an easy five length triumph over Candacraig and driver Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer in a time of 2:04.2. After leaving from post seven, Williams hustled his trotter to the lead, taking command before the quarter pole. From there Callico Cat made every pole a winning one en route to the 6-year-old mare’s ninth victory of the season. Loco Speed didn’t give Northfield Park’s Director of Racing, Gregg “Fast Greggy” Keidel, his 100th driving victory, but he did ramble home third best in the contest.

In the other Midwest Region trot, Kathryn Hawk flew to the front from post six with Quikmaster and “High Flyin’ Kathy” proceeded to rebuff any and all challenges and went on to a gate-to-wire 2:06.2 triumph with the 5-year-old Master Lavec stallion which she owns. ABS Speedy Hall, who was handled by “Tiny Tim” Miller, finished second and Joe “the Farrier” Kubacki took home the show dough with I Will Come Over.

At Cobleskill, N.Y., in Eastern Region competition, a very joyful Guy Roemer scored his first ever Billings victory and he couldn’t have been happier. Roemer, a lawyer by profession, has been involved in harness racing for nearly three decades and has been a driver since 1988. And though he’s won races before, his first Billings triumph will be most memorable for him since, in the process, he set a track trotting record.

In the second Billings split Roemer fired Pocket Pita to the lead from the rail position and went wire-to-wire to score an easy five length triumph in 2:04.1 over Economy Size and driver Tony “the Capo” Verruso. Third place in that contest went to Shayla, who was handled by Simeon “Hot Rod” Hunsdon.

The first split was arguably the better of the two races though it didn’t go as fast. The final time of 2:04.4 saw three horses on the wire but it was Unitas and “Rapid Rail Rob” who emerged victorious, albeit by only a head.

Krivelin sat cool throughout the mile in second place and followed the pace-setter Famous Oscar, who was driven by Amy “Rock Around the Clock” Haley. Up the backstretch the second time around, Vladimir “Butch” Melnichenko and Cross Creek Whiz ranged alongside the leader and the two raced as a team around the final turn as Krivelin sat chilly in third position. In the stretch, Krivelin found room between horses and he rallied his charge.

As the three trotters came to the wire, Krivelin didn’t even lift a line but his veteran 12-year-old trotter knew what to do and went on to score his 41st career victory in what turned out to be Unitas’ 299th career start. Melnichenko finished second with Cross Creek Whiz and Amy Haley was third with Famous Oscar.

The victory moved Krivelin six points closer to Peter “the President” Gerry — he finished fifth with Tiki Time in that event — who is atop the Eastern Region leaderboard. However, Krivelin still trails Gerry by 20 points in that region.