Could it have been the home court advantage that facilitated the three Canadian amateurs to finish one-two-three in an eastern region Billings Trot at Grand River Raceway on Monday, August 17?
Probably not, because none of the drivers are regulars at the Elora Ont. racetrack, and they drive there only occasionally.
Was it that they had the favourites in the race? Nope. Whatever it was, Canadians ‘Handy Dan’ St. Pierre, ‘Howie the Horse’ Gelfand and ‘Dynamite Dave’ Drew were the first three drivers under the wire at the finish of the dash.
St. Pierre guided 13-1 shot Were Rolling to a gate-to-wire victory in a time of 2:01.1. But for Handy Dan the wire came up just in time because Gelfand and 6-1 shot Wine Photo were charging at the finish, only to be rebuffed by a nose in the deciding photo. Kashs Caviar and Drew, sent off at odds of over 27-1, were just one length behind the first two finishers and garnered the show dough.
Were Rolling, who is owned by Bob Dancetovic of Paris, Ont., paid returned $22.70 for a successful $2 Win wager.
(With files from the CKG Billings Series)