The C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series, harness racings greatest traveling roadshow, moves on again this time to The Meadowlands on Memorial Day, May 25
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Two “wild card” divisions--one on the card and one off--will go to post that day as the members get a big treat being able to drive over the famed mile oval; home of more sub-1:50 miles than any other racetrack in the history of the sport.
The first split, loaded with trainer entries which probably prohibited it from being a betting race, will go to post at 12:40 p.m.
When he last drove in an amateur race at the Meadowlands Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg reined a winner and the business executive from New Jersey has a good chance to repeat that pleasure when he jumps up behind his own Double Strength and they leave from post position three.
However, don’t put a circle around Double Strength yet because Dave “Steady As” Yarock will be looking to turn the tables on Offenberg. Yarock will handle his own Patsy B Happy--already a five-time winner this year--who’ll start from post position two. And don’t discount Pilgrims Kassie a two-winner thus far this season owned by Michael and William Pozefsky and Myron Ekstein. The four-year-old Yankee Glide mare will be driven by college student “Hot-Handed Harry” Pozefsky.
Their competitors that day include: John “Night Train” Regina; “Daring Dave” Pozefsky; Rob “Rapid Rail” Krivelin; Simeon “Hot Rod” Hunsdon; Cowboy Eric “ “the Driving Fireman” Taddeo and Danny “the Demon” Nikac.
In all, nine trotters will go to post in that split.
The 10-horse betting event that afternoon will be race number one and will feature many veteran Billings drivers including the likes of Tony “the Capo” Verruso, “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo; Todd “the Downeaster” Whitney, Scott “the Driving Doctor” Woogen, George “the Brooklyn Cowboy” Casale, and Dave “Linemaster” Ehrenberg II.
However, the horse to beat appears to be San Siro Lane, who’ll be driven by “Joltin’ Joe” Pennacchio. They’ll start from Post 8 in the 10-horse field, but Bob “The Headhunter” Hechkoff and Walden from the pole position, and Terry “the Dairy Queen” Donnelly with Jay A Novak from Post 9, will have to be reckoned with.
Still with all the action that will be offered in the second Billings split should Valcyon Days, with Kenny “the Virginia Squire” Weckstein aboard, make the winners circle be prepared to see the trotter take a bow as he did when he won at Monticello Raceway on May 20.
(Monticello Raceway)