by John Manzi, for the NAADA

Monticello, NY — The annual NAADA Fall Trotting Series got underway at Freehold Raceway on Friday afternoon (Sept. 26) and when the dust had settled Bob Hechkoff and Get Packin trotted to a wire-to-wire, 2:00 victory.

Starting on the outside in sixth position, Hechkoff sent the betting favorite to the front and they made every pole a winning one en route to a one length victory over Wygant Prince and driver Bob Davis. Third place went to Rev It Now, driven by Hannah Miller.

“He’s an old veteran and just a pleasure to drive,” noted Hechkoff, who is an executive recruiter by trade. “He can leave, he’ll sit in a hole comfortably and with 60 victories in his career he has a desire to win.”

Hechkoff’s R.B.H. Ventures Stable has owned the veteran 12-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding since this past February and the old guy has been nothing but good for Hechkoff, earning him nearly $40,000 this season, not to mention the seven winning rides Get Packin has afforded his owner this season.

However, over the veteran trotter’s career he has earned more than $545,000 for those who paid the bills on him.

Hechkoff and Get Packin can be found competing in many amateur events, not the least being the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series. Although Hechkoff didn’t earnestly get involved in amateur racing until 2004 he has become a force to be reckoned with. He drove his first winner that year and since then he has recorded 54 victories, usually driving about 35 races a year.

Open to drivers who are members of the North American Amateur Drivers Association — and anyone can easily become a member — the NAADA Trotting Series differs from others in that the organization donates to deserving charities at the end of their series of races.

Next stop will be at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday (Oct. 2) where the competing amateurs will race for $6,000 purses in the two events that are expected that evening.

At series end, the drivers who earned the most points in the preliminaries will get a chance to race in the $14,000 final.