The C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series passed the
halfway point this season en route to the Delvin Miller Gold and Silver Cup
Championships which will be raced at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday, November
24
In the latest Eastern Region action, newcomer “Bullet Bob”
Davis added another victory to his seasonal resume when he guided Jimmer
to a 1:59.3 triumph over the five-eighths mile oval at Tioga Downs on
August 24 in Eastern Region action and “Lawbook Larry” Farley
scored his first Billings conquest of the season when he drove Good
Friend to a 2:02 triumph at the Darke County Fair at Greenville,
Ohio on the 23rd of August.
Davis,67, a self employed businessman from Saratoga
Springs NY, resumed his driving career this season after
a 12 year hiatus and has come back strong already driving four winners in
Billings competition.
Once again, and without much wagering backing,
Davis started from post six and he and Jimmer got away slowly some 12
lengths of the leader at the quarter in 29.2.
But gradually Davis moved his trotter toward the front but
they were still eight lengths behind at the half in :59.3. Then, with a
burst of speed, Jimmer ranged alongside the pace-setter Make It Hot
and driver Harvey “Doc” Stein and then they drew off by four
lengths. As they came to the wire Jimmer was an eased-up 1-1/2 length
winner over Pierre Lavec in rein to Tony “the Capo” Verruso. Nowerland Nathan
was third for Dave “Steady As” Yarock.
Sent off at odds of 11-1, Jimmer a 4-year-old Equinox Bi
gelding, paid $24.00 for win.
In Midwest Region action over the half-mile track in
Greenville, Ohio on the previous afternoon, “Lawbook Larry” gunned his
trotter Good Friend to the lead from the four-hole and took no prisoners
as his 7 year old Kadabra gelding was never in doubt and went on to
a four length victory in a time of 2:02 over the father-daughter team of
George Bonomo and Michelle Ruvola. Bonomo, up behind Cabo Blue, finished
second, one length ahead of his daughter Michelle, who handled Life
Long Hanover.
Farley, an attorney by trade who’ll celebrate his 62nd
birthday on August 29, participated in Monticello Raceway’s Legal Eagle Pace—a
race for lawyer drivers only-- back in the mid 1990’s. His victory here was his
47th of his amateur driving career.
Next up in Billings action will a Midwest contest at Raceway
Park on September 1.
