Perhaps it was only fitting that the Canadian members of the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series won most of the contests on their home turf this past weekend.
Though it wasn't a competition among the participating reinsmen of the four races at the three different tracks, the Canadians won three times and the Americans once.
On Friday at Rideau Carlton Raceway, America driver Vladimir 'Butch' Melnichenko sat a two-hole trip with Eastwood Fly. The duo came on in the lane to post a 2:03:2 victory over Churro (driven by 'Fast Philippe' Trudeau). Todd 'The Downeaster' Whitney chugged home third best with Incredibly Elegant.
What Trudeau failed to accomplish in the first division he did in the second Billings split, when the French-Canadian steered Latenight Bayama to a solid three length triumph in a swift 1:57:4. Another Canadian, 'Dynamite Dave' Drew, hustled Day To San Jose home for second place, while Alain Lamontagne took home the show dough with Carls Future.
Saturday at Hippodrome Gatinau, reinsman Alain Lamontagne piloted The Gaspe Clipper to a two-length victory in 2:00. Fellow Canadian 'Racin' Jason' Sgrignuoli finished second with 35-1 shot Bridgeports Best, and 'Dynamite Dave' Drew made it a Canadian sweep when he guided Herecomesyourpan home third best.
Jason Sgrignuoli's victory at Sulky Quebec on Thursday, September 25 helped the local teamsters take three of four Billings 'wild card' contests on Canadian soil.
(With files from Billings)