Last season Kelly “Sky” Walker won the Gold Cup Final raced
at The Meadows last December when he rallied Rush N Supreme to a 2:28.4
victory in the 1-1/4 mile race over Celtic Merchant driven by
fellow Michigander, Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford.
And for his outstanding season in the sulky, Walker, a
nursery owner and farmer, was named the 2011 National Amateur
Driver of the Year and he had the pleasure of representing the United States in
the prestigious World Cup of Amateur Racing which took place this
year in New Zealand in late January where he won a few races
and made a fine showing .
The Silver Cup Final went to “Trader Bud” Hatfield when he
hustled 25-1 shot Done Dreamen from sixth at the top of the stretch to
a one length victory in a 2:33.2 clocking over the 1-1/4 mile distance.
Hatfield, a longtime amateur driver, was the National Amateur Driver of the
Year in 1998.
Billings president Tony “the Capo” Verruso was the points
champion in the Eastern Region last year while Oldford, the series
vice president won the points title in the Midwest Region as well as the
combined points category championship.
The first leg of this season’s seventh month driving series
is carded as race number six on the Pompano Park 9-race card that evening.
Besides Verruso and Oldford, other stalwarts of the Billings
Series who will be there to handle a spirited steed include
two-time National Amateur Driver of the Year (2005-2005), Dein” The
Jupiter Gem” Spriggs (2004 & 2005)and “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo, who won top
national honors in 1997.
Other slated to drive in the Billings trot on Saturday
include; John “Park Limo” Campagnuolo, Dave “Steady As” Yarock, Mike “the
Mortgage Man” Mitchell, Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg, and “Steady Teddy”
Bowman.
The C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series is unique in that
drivers, not horses, are nominated for the competitions though participating
trotters must fit certain criteria to be eligible to race.
Each participating driver must be a member in good standing
with the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association and licensed by either the
USTA or Standardbred Canada and at the state of province where required.
