DAVID GLASSER WINS BILLINGS TROT AT THE BIG M ON FRIDAY, May 12, 2017

Since the early 1980’s the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series started the rebirth of amateur driving and since then it has been the granddaddy of all amateur contests. It was so successful that it spawned amateur clubs at many racetracks, especially on the east coast,  many of which today sap the entries in  the Billings Series.

On Thursday night (May 12) a 10-horse  field of trotters  went to post in a Billings contest at the Meadowlands which produced an excellent stretch duel with two trotters and their tail-setters giving their all in an effort to be  a winner.

When the two main competitors, David “Poppa” Glasser with Winwood Scout and “Hurricane Hannah” Miller and Pine Tab, locked horns at the top of the lane they battled side-by-side all the way to the finish line. The finish was so tight that it took a few minutes before the judges hung the official sign but when they did the former duo was short nose winner over the latter.

Glasser and Winwood Scout started from the nine hole and they hustled to the lead and had command in a :27.3 first quarter. Meanwhile, Hannah and Pine Tab got away sixth and they were seven lengths behind the leader at the first stanza.

Secure on the lead Glasser got his trotter a breather and they were an open lengths ahead of Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff and Keystone Thomas as the half mile timer flashed :57.3. Nearing that point Hannah moved Pine Tab off the pylons still in sixth position and five lengths behind Winwood Scout.

As they headed up the backside Glasser’s trotter began to open some daylight on the field and they had a two-length lead in the 1:26.4 clocked three furlongs. 

Forced to go three-wide around horses Hannah had Pine Tab in high gear at the third stanza and they ranged alongside the leader at the top of the stretch.  And from there the battle for victory ensued until Winwood Scout was posted the winner.

“I won by one quarter of a nose!” laughed Glasser, who is the president of a litigation support company.

“It was a tough first quarter, then I tried to go a fair pace-- not too fast and not too slow --and I just had enough to hold on. Barely.

“It was a great race and it felt great to win. This was my fourth Meadowlands win, with the other the last May. Mother's Day has been good to me. I won my first-ever last Mother's Day and this one just before Mother's Day.”

Recently claimed by Glasser Racing and trained by Mike Watson, the 7-year-old Keystone Nordic gelding paid $9.80 for win. It was the fourth victory in eight seasonal starts for Winwood Scout. And for Glasser, it was his second driving victory this season and 34^th of his amateur career.