by
john manzi for the Billings Series
The granddaddy of all amateur racing organizations,
the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series which came to fruition nearly four
decades ago, has been the inspiration for all the amateur clubs that have since
evolved. And there are many, much to the delight of the participants as
well of the harness racing secretaries.
When there are events at two different venues on the
same evening, one can begin to see the positive impact that amateur racing is
having on the industry.
Earlier tonight ( November 11), a Billings Trot was
slated at two different racetracks; one for the Midwest region members at
Dayton Raceway in Ohio and another at Pocono Downs for members of the series’
eastern region.
“Yankee Joe” Lee was victorious with Soul Train
in a 1:57.4 clocking at Pocono Downs while Ned “the Insurance agent’ Hodkinson
won the trot at Dayton Raceway with his own Mutinyonthebounty in a 1:58.4
clocking.
At Wilkes Barre, Pa. Joe Lee went to post in an
amateur race for the 79th time thus far this year and the New
York Yankee’s assistant locker room manager notched his 14th
seasonal triumph.
In his contest Lee got away softly from the pole
position then picked up cover behind “Buffalo Bob” Davis with Dizzy
Rizzy as the field headed to the halfway point. But as they neared the third
stanza Lee wheeled Soul Train three-deep and they marched forward and at
the top of the lane they were third. When the tight field headed for
paydirt Soul Train began to ease away from his competition and went on to
a 1-1/4 length triumph. Second place in that $12,000 contest went to Aventure
driven by “Tough Tony” Ciuffetelli, Dizzy Rizzy hung on for the show
dough.
The winner, owned by Blindswitch Racing, Good
Friends Stable and Santo Farina , is trained by Al Annunziata. Sent off as the
odds-on favorite Soil Train paid $3.00.
Meanwhile, at Dayton Raceway in Ohio hot-handed
Ned Hodkinson added to his Midwest region point lead when he reined
Mutinyonthebounty to a wire to wire triumph. But victory didn’t come easy
with his trotter being challenged the entire mile by Keep the Cash (Patricia
“the Write Stuff” Miller) and Fairground Drama (Rodney “Hot Rod” Bebeck).
Despite the challenges throughout, from the parked
horses, Hodkinson managed to get away with fairly even fractions.
When the bunched field headed for home
Mutinyonthebounty hung tough and managed to rebuff Fairground Drama who was on
his throat-latch throughout the final quarter. Kelly “Sky” Walker
finished third with Stemilt Touch.
"He's such a nice horse,"Hodkinson said
referring to Mutinyonthebounty."He's so handy and well-mannered and he
loves to race."
Hodkinson owns and trains the winner who returned a
$10.40 win mutuel.
