The annual NAADA Fall Trotting Series got underway at
Freehold Raceway on Friday afternoon and when the dust had settled Bob Hechkoff
and Get Packin trotted on to a wire to wire 2:00 victory.
Starting on the outside in sixth position, Hechkoff sent the
betting favorite to the front and they made every pole a winning one en route
to a one length victory over Wygant Prince and driver Bob Davis third
place went to Rev It Now driven by Hannah Miller.
“He’s an old veteran and just a pleasure to drive,” noted
Hechkoff who is an executive recruiter by trade.. “He can leave, he’ll sit in a
hole comfortably and with 60 victories in his career he has a desire to win.”
Hechkoff’s R.B.H Ventures Stable has owned the veteran 12
year old Muscles Yankee gelding since this past February and the old guy has
been nothing but good for Hechkoff earning him nearly $40,000 this season, not
to mention the seven winning rides Get Packin has afforded his owner this
season.
However, over the veteran trotter’s career he has earned
more than $545,000 for those who paid the bills on him.
Hechkoff and Get Packin can be found competing in many
amateur events not the least being the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series.
Although Hechkoff didn’t earnestly get involved in amateur racing until 2004 he
has become a force to be reckoned with. He drove his first winner that year and
since then he has recorded 54 victories usually driving about 35 races a year.
Open to drivers who are members of the North American
Amateur Drivers Association—and anyone can easily become a member-- the NAADA
Trotting Series differs from others in that the organization donates to
deserving charities at the end of their series of races.
Next stop will be at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, Oct. 2
where the competing amateurs will race for $6,000 purses in the two events that
are expected that evening.
At series end the drivers who earned the most points in the
preliminaries will get a chance to race in the $14,000 Final.
