Two non-wagering trots took place Wednesday, August 5 at the Meadowlands Racetrack featuring amateur reinsmen as well as one carded in the first race on the regular program
. The majority of the drivers were representatives of the CKG Billings Amateur Drivers Series while non-Billings amateurs were permitted to compete with horses that met normal Billings conditions.
In the first event, Theresa "Dairy Queen" Donnelly, a familiar force on the Billings circuit, sitting behind her hard knocking six-year-old gelding, Jay A Novak, got off of the gate quickly to be on the engine at the quarter pole and relinquished the lead momentarily at the half to a parked out Play Time directed by John Regina. At the three-quarter mark, Donelly was back out in front and managed to hold off the furious challenge of George "The Brooklyn Cowboy" Casale, who had his steed, Perfect Gerry, in high gear rallying from seventh to finish second by a neck when the battle was said and done. Miguel Lopez, driving Boriqua, raced with the leaders throughout and finished third, only a length back of the first two.
In the second heat, 10 starters answered the call with two drivers traveling in from the great state of Ohio to take part. When the 1:58.2 contest was ended, it was a Ohio Exacta, as Bob "The Lumberman" Troyer proved clearly the best while driving the Dean Beachy owned and trained six-year-old gelding Quantum King Leo to a three-length victory. Troyer cleverly steered the trotter from the seven hole to be in third position at the quarter and half mile markers. Moving by the three-quarters he tipped three-wide and scooted home an easy winner. Finishing second was David "Linemaster" Ehrenberg II, who had an interesting trip being Iliketherain - they were on the lead at the quarter, second at the half, back on the lead at the three-quarters and held on for the runner-up spot, a length ahead of Tough Broad, under the direction of Todd Whitney.
In the final trot, "Rapid" Robert Krivelin engineered a 1:55.2 winning trip aboard his pupil Proud Moment. The four-year-old gelding won by six lengths over American Flyer and "Tar Heel" Tom Williams while Dean "What Am I Bid" Beachy and his trainee, Kyle Doodles, finished back in third despite being on the lead by two lengths at the half.
The road warriors of the CKG Billings Series will be in Wild-Card action this weekend, racing on Saturday night at Hiawatha Horse Park in Sarnia, Ont., followed by two heats on Sunday afternoon at Clinton Raceway, also in Ont.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click here.
(With files from USHWRA)