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Friday, August 9, 2013

CKG Billings - OLDFORD; NEWELL, JR. & HECHKOFF; BILLINGS WINNERS AT YONKERS RACEWAY, AUGUST 8



On Thursday, August 8  three divisions of trotters went to post at Yonkers Raceway in the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series which marked the first time since last fall in Delaware, Ohio  have there been that many Billings divisions on one card.

Raced prior to the betting card getting underway,  division winners included Steve” You’re Never Too” Oldford, “Gentleman  George” Newell, Jr. and Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff.

Oldford was the first to reach the winners circle when, in the first Billings split he sent Celtic Merchant to the lead and they raced relatively unchallenged  on the lead and coasted home an easy winner in a very creditable 1:58.2 clocking. Even with a close pocket trip by  “Coach Paul” Minore  wasn’t enough  for  Wygant Prince to make up any ground  in the deep stretch and they  had to settle for second money, which wasn’t too bad considering the $6000 purse that was offered in each division.  Alan “the Intimidator” Schwartz  finished third with American Hot Rod.

“Considering  that  Celtic Merchant and I went wire to wire last week  to win in 1:57.1 in an amateur contest at the Meadowlands I felt we were the best in here tonight so I was told when you’re the best stay out of trouble and race on the front end,” Oldford related.  “And that’s just what I did and he raced like a champ.  1:58:3 on a half mile track is a real good trotting mile.”

Making his first start in Billings competition since receiving his “P” license “Gentleman George”  Newell guided  Drill Sergeant  Sam  to his first victory  in 14 starts this year.

Noticing that no one in the field  was hustling out of there Newell sent his trotter to the lead  and  they  found themselves  two lengths in front as they passed the first marker. From there it was catch me if you  can and although “Mighty Matt” Zuccarello and  Deep Seas were charging in the deep stretch Drill Sergeant Sam kept them at bay for a head victory in 2:02.4.  Paul Minore, subbing for Bobby “Rapid Rail” Krivelin, finished third with Ace High Hall.

Newell has been driving plenty of qualifiers this year at Yonkers and this is his first seasonal victory in a betting race. His only other start for money was at Monticello Raceway in mid-January where he finished second in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pace.

A final Billings split saw the Bob Hechkoff and  Thehouseisrockin stalk  the pace-setter, Famous Image and driver Mike “I’ll Never Stop” Eaton, until the homestretch and then rally in the final strides to score a nose victory , the eighth of the year for Thehouseisrockin, a recent purchase by Hechkoff.  Dave “Yes it’s True” Offenberg took home the show dough with Whantnblazes.

At the Hall of Fame Banquet in July Hechkoff  received the Harness Racing Museum’s Amateur Driver of the Year Award which is given to the  amateur driver who donates the most money to the Museum from the  driving percentages he’s  earned.

Billings action will continue at the Meadows on Saturday, August 10 followed by a contest at the Muskingum County Fair  in Zanesville, Ohio Fair  on Monday, August 12.