by john manzi, for the
Billings Series
Being sent off as the
odds-on favorite with Sum It Up driver Joey “The Jet” Putnam was undaunted
after starting from the five-hole and sent his charge to the front and then
made every pole a winning en route to a 1:57.1 triumph in his first start as a
member of the Billings Harness Driving Series at Miami Valley Raceway on
Sunday, April 29.
In an evenly rated mile
Putnam was well in hand at the finish winning by 1-1/2 lengths over
Can'tcutthatchip, driven by Gregg “Fast Greggy” Keidel. Ronan and driver
“Lawbook Larry” Farley finished third some 17-lengths behind the first two
finishers.
Putnam. a 20 year-old
college student son of talented mid-west horseman Joe Putnam, is part of the
youth movement employed this season by Billings vice president Steve Oldford to
bolster the amateur ranks in the series mid-west regional division.
According to Oldford, “the
Billings series is seeking youth, 25 years or younger who have under 50
pari-mutuel wins without haven taken compensation and for a nominal fee can
join the Billings events except for the travel series races.”
Added Billings president
Tony Verruso”We are targeting young drivers for all divisions of the Billings
who are working their way to the professional ranks and it should be noted that
top reinsmen Cory Callahan and Ronnie Wrenn used the Billings series as their
first step.”
The Billings is sponsored by
the Delvin Miller Harness Driving Association. Any amateur driver seeking
further information or if interested is joining the Billings Series , is urged
to call Verruso at 917-697-8986 or Oldford at 810-300-3234.
The Granddaddy of all
amateur racing series, the Billings, will offer races weekly at various venues
in both the United States and Canada and will culminate with the Gold and
Silver Cup Finals at Yonkers Raceway on Sunday, November 26.
The leg at Miami Valley
Raceway on Sunday, April 29 was the first in Midwest Division series. The next
Billings event is slated in the Eastern Division series at Freehold Raceway on
Saturday, May 5.
