In what is usually amateur racings seasonal highlight, three divisions of the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series and the one heat of the Fouts Memorial was on tap on Sunday September 20 at America’s harness racing showplace
, the speedy double oval at Delaware, Ohio - the home of the famed Little Brown Jug.
And as usual, not only the trotters but all competing horses, go to some of their fastest miles of the season over the exquisitely manicured racetrack.
One of the fastest, if not the fastest clocking ever, for a Billings trotter over a half mile track was turned in by “Tar Heel Tom” Williams when he guided Linemaster Services’ American Flyer to a romping gate to wire five length victory in a time of 1:57.4.
Though not the betting favourite, Williams drove him like one when he sent the four-year-old New And Notable gelding to the lead from post three and despite being parked to the quarter in :28 by Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer and Candacraigh, American Flyer kept the pedal to the metal and even opened up daylight in the homestretch for a substantial triumph. “Tiny Tim” Miller and Quantum King Leo rambled home second best while Candacraigh, who shadowed the leader throughout, faded and finished third.
In the first division “Trader Bud” Hatfield got his picture taken when he and his Clark Hanover used the front-end route to score a 2:02.4 victory over Prime Number and “Lawbook Larry” Farley. Gavin “Bim Bam” Bixler took home the show dough with Lotsa Help.
A third split saw Brent “the Zanesville Clipper” Davis and the Hatfield’s Stables, Done Dreamen leave their competition in the dust when the six-year-old Donerail gelding trotted away from the field to score a 13-length triumph over Quikmaster and Kathy “High Flying” Hawk in a 2:00 clocking. Third place went to Au Bon Hall and driver “Jungle Jim” Pollock, Jr.
Over the past few years the Tim Fouts Memorial brings together members from amateur clubs from all over the States to compete in a 10-horse pace and this year was no exception.
The winner of that contest was Lookin At Sadie in a time of 1:58.2. She was in rein to Kyle Wilfong who represented the Midwest Amateur Club. Steve Oldford, representing the Billings Series, drove the second place finisher while Ms Maize N Blu and Mario Matellotto, Jr. from the New England Club was third best with Bobbys on The Move.
On October 1 the Billings Series moves from Delaware, Ohio to another hallowed venue, The Red Mile in Lexington, Ky.