The granddaddy of all amateur driving competitions, the CKG Billings Harness Driving Series, went back to its roots on Saturday, September 1 with a pair of races at Ohio's Fulton County Fair. When the events were completed, ‘Lawbook Larry’ Farley and Joey ‘The Kid’ Putnam each emerged victorious in their respective splits.
Farley won his division with Ronan in a time of 2:02.3 while Putnam scored behind Sum It Up in 2:00.3.
Of the 11 races on the card at the finely manicured oval at Wauseon, Ohio, two short fields of trotters were devoted to members of the Billings mid-west region. Farley, a retired attorney and a longtime amateur reinsmen, notched his 58th career driving victory since he took a seat behind spirited steeds in 1981.
In his division, Farley started from the five-hole and gained an advantage when two in the five-horse field went off-stride at the start which allowed him the settle his trotter in behind the leader, BL Class Act, in rein to Mike ‘The Mortgage Man’ Mitchell. Farley followed the leader until the backstretch where he moved Ronan to the lead and they coasted home an easy four and a quarter-length winner over Ill Tell You What, driven by Richard ‘The Wolverine’ Roach. BL Class Act held on for the show dough.
Farley owns the winner who is trained by Steve Boroff. Ronan returned a $7.00 mutuel to his backers.
In his split, Putnam took no prisoners when he sent Sum It Up to the lead, and they had command in a :28.3 first quarter over Mulligan Bi, driven by Billings vice president Steve ‘You're Never Too’ Oldford. From there, the leaders raced one-two past the half in :59 and the order remained the same as the duo trotted by the three quarters in 1:30.2. And to no one's surprise they finished ‘one-two’ in the 2:00.3 clocked mile. Ellens Lucky Roll and driver Larry Farley finished third some 14 lengths behind the winner.
For Joey Putnam, a rising star who currently holds a provisional license, it was the young man's 33rd win this year and 43rd in less than two seasons in the sulky.
Sum It Up is owned by Joe Putnam and Cheryl O'Mara and trained by Joey's dad. He paid $5.40.
(Billings Series)