by John Manzi, for the C.K.G. Billings Series

Monticello, NY — The C.K.G Billings Harness Driving Series will kick-off its 30th season on Saturday (April 30) at Pompano Park. Long known as the Billings Amateur Driving Series the name change to the Billings Harness Driving Series began last year so the word “amateur” will no longer be emphasized.

Similar to last season, all races will be wild card events with the participating drivers having to declare which region they want the points they earn in each event to be applied to. No longer will wild card leg points be counted in both regions for each driver. This will reduce the likelihood, if not eliminate, the situation that led to one driver winning points in both the Midwest and Eastern regions. And no longer will there be a need for events in the Midwest region and events in the Eastern region to be listed separately.

President Tony Verruso has lined-up a schedule that will continue throughout the United States and Canada until late November when the regional finales will be contested. The Midwest region final will be raced over the double oval at Northfield Park in greater Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday, Nov. 19, while the Eastern regional final will be raced over the five-eighths-mile track at Harrah’s Chester in greater Philadelphia, Pa., on Sunday, Nov. 20. Once again The Meadows will host the Gold, Silver and Bronze Cup Championships and they’ll be contested on Friday, Dec. 2, over their five-eighths oval in Washington, Pa.

The C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series is unique in that drivers, not horses, are nominated for the competition, although participating trotters must fit certain criteria to be eligible to race.

Each participating driver must be a member in good standing with the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association and licensed by either the USTA or Standardbred Canada and in the state of province where required.

The fee for regular members is $400; student member (ages 15-21) fees are just $50 though non-student junior members (ages 15-21) must pay $150 and junior members (ages 22-26) must also pay $150. A patron nomination fee of $200 permits four starts only, though residents of Florida, states west of the Mississippi, and Canada are allowed five starts.

All nominations must be mailed to the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association, 240 Main St., Goshen, NY 10924. Nominations to the Billings Series will close on April 30.

A complete list of the CKG Billings conditions can be had by contacting series president Tony Verruso at sulkyracer@hotmail.com or vice president Steve Oldford at steveoldford@advnet.net.