by John Manzi, for the Billings Series

Greenville, OH — Harness racing’s greatest traveling roadshow, the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series, moved on to the beautiful facility at the Darke County Fair in Greenville, Ohio, on Thursday evening (Aug. 24) for a six-horse trot for members in the series’ Midwestern region and with a cool and collective drive “Lawbook Larry” Farley and his 7-year-old Andover Hall gelding , Ronan, rallied to a 2:01.3 victory over a stubborn The Budster, driven by Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford.

When the wings of the mobile starting gate folded Oldford sent his veteran trotter to the front and they and took command before the timer flashed-:30.1. The soft early fractions seemed to appeal to Oldford, that was, until Pat “The Wright Stuff” Miller fired alongside him with Keep The Cash and a head-to-head challenge ensued as both The Budster and Miller’ charge battled nose to nose by the halfway point in 1:00.2. They were still one-two as they passed the three quarters in 1:31.2 but lurking right behind the leaders was Ronan and “Lawbook Larry” just biding their time.

As the field rounded the final turn Farley and Ronan set sales for paydirt as Oldford kept urging The Budster. But in the deep stretch Ronan wore down The Budster in the final strides to get up for a head triumph in a 2:01.3 clocking. K’s Jelly Belly finished third for Dave “Linemaster” Ehrenberg.

Sent off as the betting favorite, Ronan paid $6.40. Farley also owns the winner who’s trained by Steve Boroff.

For Larry Farley, a retired attorney and longtime amateur driver who has been an even a longer harness racing enthusiast, it was his 56th career driving victory. Back in the 1990’s Farley, along with 15 others throughout the East Coast ventured to Monticello Raceway to compete in the “the Legal Eagle Pace”, a race for strictly for drivers who were also lawyers and Farley placed among the top three finishers in the race.