Members of the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship will get a taste of “the Big Time” when two divisions of trotters will compete over the famed mile oval at the Meadowlands this Sunday afternoon
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The Meadowlands’ Director of Racing, Peter Koch, noted that one event will race for a $7,500 purse and be the first race on the betting card while the other - going for $5000 - will be a non-wagering race prior to the betting card.
The trots there are the first events specifically for members from the Eastern Region. Among the talented amateurs competing that afternoon include last year’s Billings Gold Cup Championship winner, Tony “the Capo” Verruso who makes his living in the embroidery business.
He’ll be joined by among others, “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo, Robert “Rapid Rail” Krivelin , Dave “Steady As” Yarock, Scott “The Driving Doctor” Woogen; Bob “The Headhunter” Hechkoff , Terry “the Dairy Queen” Donnelly, and Peter “the President” Gerry.
Faraldo, a lawyer by trade is a former Amateur Driver of the Year as is Robert “Rapid Rail” Krivelin whose profession is a wholesale food purveyor. Dr. Scott Woogen is a gastroenterologist and a former Harness Racing Museum Amateur of the Year while Bob Hechkoff, a prominent horse owner is an executive recruiter. Terry Donnelly, owner of a Dairy Queen franchise, has, for the past two seasons, won a Billings event at the Big M and Peter Gerry is the president of the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association, the sponsor of the Billings Series.
The Meadowlands is just the third venue in the Billings Series this year which began on April 23 at Pompano Park and will go for seven months culminating the Gold, Silver and Bronze Cup Championship Finals at The Meadows five eighths mile oval on December 6. Along the way the participating drivers will make three stops in Canada - two in Ontario and one in the Maritime province.
The first event, strictly for members in the Midwest Region, will be on Sunday, May 16 at Hoosier Park.