by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — The Grand Circuit of Amateur Racing, the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship Series, moves on to Canada for a race at Hiawatha Horse Park on Saturday, August 14, and for two trots at Clinton Raceway on Sunday, August 15.

It will mark the second of three Canadian journeys that the Billings members will take this season. Drivers for the trip were assembled by Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and the same amateurs will compete at both venues in Ontario this weekend.

Besides Oldford, others who will be traveling north this weekend include “Tar Heel Tom” Williams, Kelly “Sky” Walker, Dale “the Big Boss” Zahn, “Dynamite Dave” Drew, Mike “the Mortgage Man” Mitchell, “Racin’ Jason” Sgrignuoli, and Sherwin “Smiley” Edwards.

In Sarnia, Ontario on Saturday at Hiawatha Horse Park, Dave Drew will handle the early line favorite, EW Royal Pain, when they leave from the five hole. The following afternoon in Clinton, Jason Sgrignuoli will drive Calenhad, the early favorite in the first Billings Trot, while Steve Oldford has drawn the favorite, Bumblebsbullwinkle in the second Billings split.

With races contested at 18 various venues thus far in the Eastern Region Cory “The Teenage Terror” Stratton holds a 12-point lead over “Coach Paul” Minore, 75-63. Tony “the Capo” Verruso is currently tied for third with Dave “Steady As” Yarock, each with 61 points. Simeon “Hot Rod” Hunsdon’s 60 points ranks him fifth while Rob “Rapid Rail” Krivelin holds down sixth place with 58 points. “Cowboy Eric” Taddeo follows with 55. Peter “the Past President” Gerry (52), “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo (49) and John “Night Train” Regina (48) round out the top ten in that division.

Fourteen venues have held competitions in the Midwest Region and Tom Williams leads his competitors with 52 points, just one more than Steve Oldford’s 51. “Michelle the Belle” Ruvola is third best with 48 while Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg’s 45 points ranks him fourth. He’s followed by Dave “Linemaster” Ehrenberg (45), “Chicago George” Bonomo (23) and Kelly Walker (18). Mike Mitchell, Jason Sgrignuoli, “Lawbook Larry” Farley and “Tiny Tim” Miller, each with 11 points, round out the top ten in the Midwest.

On Monday, August 16, an eight-horse Billings Trot is slated as race number seven at the Muskingum County Fair in Zanesville, Ohio. That event will mark only the second Billings start this season for former National Amateur Driver of the Year, “Trader Bud” Hatfield when he drives Done Dreamen from post position six that afternoon.