For amateur drivers, save Mal “Malabar Man” Burroughs and
Bobby “Rapid Rail” Krivelin, a chance to race at the Meadowlands is
arguably a highlight in their careers .
On August 2 two races for amateur drivers , the
overwhelming majority in the Billings Series, went to post and when the
dust had settled Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and Mike “the Mortgage Man”
Mitchell were victorious in their respective divisions.
Although both races were carded as Hambletonian Amateur
Drivers all the participants were members of the C.K.G Billings Driving Series.
One trot went non-betting and the other was the third race on the betting card
and although all drivers were Billings members four of the horses in the
betting race did not fit the Billings conditions thus their drivers
couldn’t earn any points in the series.
“Just to drive over the famed mile oval is joyful enough,”
said Kelly “Sky” Walker who finished second in the betting race with Rush and
Supreme, who didn’t fit Billings conditions. “Points or no points it’s still
fun driving at the Meadowlands.”
“The Michigan Men prevailed,” Oldford said after Walker
completed his comment.”And the Sisco Stable won both races .”
Oldford, an automotive Manufacturers rep from
Croswell, MI whose stock is handled by Allen Sisco, scored wire to wire
with his own Celtic Merchant in a 1:57.1 clocking holding off a stubborn
Wygant Prince, and driver “Coach Paul” Minore in the non-wagering
contest. The betting race saw Mitchell, a mortgage broker from Burton MI
guide his trotter, B L Class Act, to head victory over “Sky”
Walker and Rush N Supreme in a 1:57 clocked mile. Mitchell also
uses the services of professional trainer Allen Sisco,,
In his contest Oldford went down the pike with
Celtic Merchant trotting fractions of :28.1’ :57.4, and 1:27.4
despite being challenged by Alan “the Intimidator” Schwartz with Get Chipped.
When Schwartz’s trotter faded nearing the third stanza Minore
took up chase with Wygant Prince and they battled Celtic Merchant
to the wire but they had to settle for second money as Oldford’s trotter kept
them at bay.
Gerry “the Catskill Cat” Fielding and Dream Kid
had a cover trip and they trotted by Get Chipped in the lane to earn the
show dough. Get Chipped finished fourth.
For Oldford, the VP of the Billings Series, it was his
seventh win this year and the 71st of his amateur driving
career.
In the other split Mitchell’s trotter went a big trip
from the eight- hole. After settling down in third place on the first turn as
the field the field moved toward the halfway point Mitchell, sensing a slow
pace and not wanting to get locked in by the second tier horses in
the 10-horse race, moved his trotter to the outside and they made
the front before then three quarters. From there it was a battle
with “Sky” Walker’s Rush N Supreme through the long homestretch and
although it took a photo to determine the winner BL Class Act had scored
a head triumph over former Billings Gold Cup winner, Rush N Supreme and
his driver KellyWalker Third place went to Thehouseisrockin driven
by Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff.
Sent off at odds of over 5-1 BL Class Act, owned by
Mitchell, won his fourth seasonal race and returned a $12.60 win
mutuel. It was also the fourth season driving victory for “the Mortgage Man”
who now has reined 34 winners in his amateur career.
The majority of the horses entered in the amateur races
here at the Meadowlands, and for that matter at most venues,
are owned by their drivers which in itself is a good result of amateur
racing.
Amateur racing supports the industry because amateur drivers buy
horses and nearly all hire professional trainers,” Oldford added.
