by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — Harness racing’s traveling road show, known as the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship Series, has been in New England during this Memorial Day weekend with a race at Bangor Raceway on Friday night (May 28) and another at Scarborough Downs on Sunday afternoon, May 30. When each was completed a veteran Billings driver copped one and a newcomer won the other.

At Bangor, “Wild Bill” MacDonald jumped up behind Ronald Dinsmore’s Mac N Ernie and with a late charge they scored a 2:01.1 triumph over Showdown At Dawn and driver “Jumpin Jamie” Marra.

After cruising along in fouth position in the early going MacDonald rallied his charage three deep on the last turn and they went on to a one length triumph. Marra’s decision to shadow MacDonald when he moved paid off with a second place finish for his pacer. Third place went to the pacesetter, Truly Singful, who was handled by Cory “the Teenage Terror” Stratton. Mac N Ernie paid $13.40 for win.

Sunday afternoon saw Michigan’s own Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford notch his first Billings triumph of the season when he used a pocket trip to score a 2:04.3 victory with Sonya MacDonald’s trotter Lucky Strike, who was sent off at odds of over 32-1.

After allowing Tony “the Capo” Verruso to cut the mile with Tough Broad, Oldford stayed settled in the two hole while others made their moves. But when he headed for paydirt Oldford rallied Lucky Strike past the leader and held off a late charge by Romeo Du Riusseau who had Philip “Ram” Bo Sowers in the pilot’s seat. The margin of victory was just a head as all three charged to the finish just heads apart with Verruso on the short end.

Lucky Strike was just that for those holding winning tickets on him when they saw their $2 ticket was worth $66.40.