by John Manzi, for the Billings Series
Monticello, NY — The C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series is truly an international competition aided by the fact that on Monday (June 18) some of the Canadian members convened in Ontario at Grand River Raceway to compete in a trotting contest on the betting card.

HCJ Photography
Majestic Mystic was hustled home a 5-1/4 length winner for “Fabulous Freddie” Bourgault.
Despite finishing with broken equipment, Majestic Mystic was hustled home a 5-1/4 length winner for “Fabulous Freddie” Bourgault. For the Quebec native it was his first winning drive in Ontario.
Sent off as second choice in the eight-horse field, Bourgault was content to find a spot in fourth position along the pylons when the wings of the gate folded. But when the pace of the race slowed as the field headed to the halfway point Bougault was out and going. When they passed the third stanza Majestic Mystic had command, albeit by just a head, over the pacesetter Happy Holidays, driven by “Gentle Ben” Hollingsworth.
When the field straightened for pay-dirt Majestic Mystic began to ease away from his competition and finished some five lengths in front of Overcomebyvictory (“Sir Isaac” Waxman) in a time of 2:00.4. Third under the wire was Extrapolate in rein to Shane “The Freelton Flash” Arsenault.
The winner, a 9-year-old Majestic Son gelding, is owned by Mary Ketros and trained by George Ketros. Sent off at odds of more than 3-1, Majestic Mystic paid $9.10 for win.