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Monday, April 28, 2014

STEVE OLDFORD WINS THE FIRST RACE IN THIS YEARS BILLINGS SERIES AT MIAMI VALLEY RACEWAY

Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford is on a roll. Actually he’s been on a roll ever since he began amateur driving in earnest back in 2006 at age 46.  A career winner of 85 races thus far, the bulk coming over the past six seasons, the Croswell, Michigan sales rep was in the winner’s circle again on Sunday evening, April 27 after he won the first race in the Midwest region of the 2014 C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series with Claim Jumper in a time of 1:58.4 at the new and beautiful Miami Valley Raceway, some 20 miles north of Cincinnati, Ohio.

By his own admission Oldford had perfect trip behind Southwind Nazareth and driver Ned “the Hilliard’s Hot-Shot” Hodkinson.

“I had a catch-drive and got a two- hole trip behind Ned (Hodkinson with Southwind  Nazareth) all the way and in the stretch my trotter (Claim Jumper) was the strong horse and we beat Ned by a couple of lengths, “Oldford related. “And we really have to thank race secretary Gregg Kiedel for going out of his way to see that this race filled.”

Third place went to Rewrite the Rules with “Lawbook Larry” Farley aboard.

Owned by Owen Eiler, Jr. and Marissa Tyler and trained by Ms. Tyler Claim Jumper paid $3.80 for win.

As aforementioned good things have happened for Oldford who is one of the busiest sportsmen in the game and one who would travel almost anywhere to drive a harness horse.

Last season Steve  was presented with USHWA’s National Amateur Driver of the Year Award at the scribes annual Dan Patch Awards Banquet in Dover, Delaware even though his wife and family mistakenly went to  Fort Lauderdale, Fla. ( but that’s another story). And he again earned the Harness Racing Museum’s Amateur Driver of the Year for the fourth time in the last six seasons.  Additionally,  Oldford wears a new moniker recently being named a vice president of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, plus he’s again the vice president of the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series.

“I’ve been a pretty lucky guy, ”Oldford admitted.

But rest assured luck has very little to do with his accomplishments.


The next action in the Billings Series will be at Freehold Raceway on Saturday, May 3rd in the eastern region  competition.