Quick...what’s the significance of May 2? Most racing fans would say that is the date of the Kentucky Derby this year. And that’s absolutely correct. However, for a group of amateur harness drivers May 2 is also the date in which the 28th season of the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series commences

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On Saturday the first events in Billings 2009 will be contested at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and will go as a wild card events, meaning that participating drivers will earn points in both the midwest and eastern regions.

Set to defend his title is Steve “You’re Never too” Oldford whose 169 points garnered the overall point championship last season which also was tops in the Midwest region.

Last year Todd “the Downeaster” Whitney made a run at the overall points championship and though his 157 points fell short of Oldford’s total Whitney’s points were tops in the eastern region.

Series president Peter Gerry has once again set forth another impressive schedule of events at racetracks in both the USA and in Canada and this season the Delvin Miller Memorial Championship Finals will be contested at the Meadows in southwestern Pennsylvania in early December. The competing amateurs will be able to enjoy 30 consecutive weeks of uninterrupted action in Billings-2009.

Following the initial venue at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Northeast Pa. the series moves to Monticello Raceway on May 11 and then to Hoosier Park on May 16 before coming back east to the Meadowlands on May 25.