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.
