by John Manzi

On Thursday afternoon at The Red Mile, before the betting card got underway, two former Amateur Drivers of the Year, “Tar Heel Tom” Williams and “Trader Bud” Hatfield, each reined a winner in their respective divisions; Williams with D W’s Perky Joe and Hatfield with Done Dreamen.

Two seven-horse Billings trots featured some of the top amateur drivers who had convened in Lexington to drive on the hallowed red dirt of the famed mile oval.

In his split Williams was content to let Dave “Linemaster” Ehrenberg II cut the fractions with Garland’s Brat as Williams sat calmly until the top of the lane when he moved DW’s Perky Joe out to challenge. And once he did, the veteran Super Ben Joe gelding kicked it into high gear and rambled home an easy two length winner in a time of 1:59.1. Despite making a bobble at the top of the stretch Gentleman Jamie” Marra quickly landed his trotter Custom Tag and they charged by a tiring Garland’s Brat to finish second. Garland’s Brat did, however, hold on for the show dough.

In his division “Trader Bud” took no prisoners and hustled Done Dreamen to a wire-to-wire triumph in a 1:58.4 clocking though they had to rebuff the late charge by Rewrite The Rules with “Lawbook Larry” Farley at the controls. At the wire Done Dreamen was a neck winner over Rewrite The Rules. Third place went to Howmuchubet and driver Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford.

Many of the Billings participants will return to Lexington next Thursday to compete in the Gentleman’s Driver Trot, an annual amateur competition that has been a staple at the Red Mile.

Also on Thursday afternoon a five-horse Billings trot was contested at the Fairfield County Fair in Lancaster, Ohio, which was won by Celebrity Yank who was driven by Milton “American Winner” Smith. Carry A Thirty Two and Bob “I Wanna Sell You A Car” Chapman was second best and “Congenial Gene” Miller and Rompaway Ulaine finished third.