Part of the festivities during Hambletonian week at The Meadowlands are the annual races for amateur drivers and this season three will be contested over the famed mile oval on Wednesday, August 4; two off the card with the other the first betting race of the evening.
Though billed as the Hambletonian Amateurs the majority of the competitors are members of the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship Series.
Among the Billings drivers who’ll be in action that evening is Simeon “Hotrod” Hunsdon who will be making his first start since June 21. At that point of the season Hunsdon was atop of the Billings Eastern Region leaderboard but the 27-year member of the organization and an ultimate gentleman driver was sidelined recuperating from cancer surgery. On Wednesday he’ll be back and handle his own Whispur when they start from post seven in the first non-betting race.
In all, 30 amateur drivers will be competing in the three 10-horse trots. Besides Hunsdon, other notables who’ll be in action include: Cory “the Teenage Terror” Stratton, “Coach Paul” Minore, Tony “the Capo” Verruso, Peter “the Past President” Gerry, Dein “the Jupiter Gem” Spriggs, “Chicago George” Bonomo; “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo, Rob “Rapid Rail” Krivelin, Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg, George “the Brooklyn Cowboy” Casale, David “Steady As” Yarock; and the battlin’ babes, “Michelle the Belle” Ruvola, and “Lightning Laura” Mac Namara.
With the Billings season nearing its half-way point the following are the point leaders in both regions.
In the East, Cory Stratton leads with 70 points, nine more than runner-up Paul Minore’s 61. Tony Verruso is third with 58 points, two better than Simeon Hunsdon’s total of 56. Dave Yarock’s 55 currently places him fifth best. Rob Krivelin’s 54 points follows and rounding out the top ten are Peter Gerry, (49),”Cowboy Eric” Taddeo (47); “Gentleman Jamie” Marra, (46) and Joe Faraldo (42).
“Tar Heel Tom” Williams is atop the Midwest Region leaderboard with 52 points, just one better than Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford’s 51. Dave “Linemaster” Ehrenberg II is third with 45 followed by the daughter-father combo of Michelle Ruvola (41)and George Bonomo (22). Kelly “Sky” Walker is sixth with 16 points and rounding put the top ten in this category, all with 11 points are Mike “the Mortgage Man” Mitchell, “Racin’ Jason” Sgrignouili, “Lawbook Larry” Farley and “Tiny Tim” Miller.
(CKG Billings)