by John Manzi, for the Billings Series
Monticello, NY — Harness racing’s greatest traveling roadshow, the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series, employed plenty of action on Sunday (Oct. 15) when the granddaddy of all amateur racing organizations had contests at two different racetracks, one in the USA at Northfield Park and the other in Canada at Flamboro Downs.
“Tiny Tim” Miller won the Midwest region Northfield trot with Song In My Heart while “Gentle Ben” Hollingsworth copped the Canadian event, a pace, behind Michelle’s Deuce over Flamboro’s double oval.
In his event Miller took no prisoners and sent his trotter down the road from the four-hole and made every pole a winning one en route to a solid 1-1/2 length triumph over Kelly “Sky” Walker’s Stemilt Touch. Patricia “the Write Stuff” Miller took home the show dough with 45-1 shot Keep The Cash.
The winner, owned by Bert Hershberger and trained by JD Wengerd, was sent off the 6-5 favorite and returned a $4.40 win mutuel. For hot-handed Miller it was his fifth driving victory in just 10 seasonal starts.
In the Canadian Billings pace later Sunday evening, “Gentle Ben” had the prohibitive favorite Michelle’s Deuce and drove like one is supposed to when deemed the best in the field.
He rushed the 8-year-old Armbro Duece mare to the lead and remained unchallenged throughout, coasting to an easy 1:59.1 triumph to notch the mare’s sixth seasonal victory. The battle for second money saw Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and No Teasing Me out-foot Thrift Shop with David “Poppa” Glasser to the wire to garner the place dough.
Owned by the LINK Stable and trained by Corey Johnson, Michelle’s Deuce paid $3.50 for win. It was Hollingsworth’s first seasonal driving victory(from just four starts) and 21st of his limited career.
Billings action continues on Monday night with two trots on the card at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ont.