Saturday CKG Billings Series coverage

With the results of the C.K.G. Billings Amateur contests on Saturday, July 12 it was sort of "the rich get richer" as both regional point leaders, Steve "You're Never Too" Oldford (Midwest) and Todd "the Downeaster" Whitney (East) were each
victorious in their respective regional events.

In all, three Midwest Region Billings races were contested at Raceway Park on July 12 while that same day, two events of the "Grand Circuit of Amateur Driving" were raced at Scarborough Downs in the Eastern region.

At Raceway Park Oldford scored an easy three length triumph with his recent purchase Eng Amer Bobby with a solid 2:01 effort in the last of the three Midwest regional events.

Oldford took command after the half and coasted home an easy winner over Absolute Resolve and driver "Trader Bud" Hatfield. Third place went to Callico Cat and driver "Tar Heel Tom" Williams, last years Billings point champion who was driving in the series for the first time there at Raceway Park.

Also making his Billings seasonal debut was Kelly "Sky" Walker and he made it a winning one guiding his own Dream of Pearls to a 2:01 victory over No Mon No Fun with Mike "the Vet" Caston at the controls.

After stalking Caston's trotter to the three quarters Walker moved Eng-Amer Bobby to the lead on the final turn and finished a two-length winner ove No Mon No Fun. Bob "the Lumberman" Troyer took home the show dough with Candacraigh.

But Troyer also got his picture taken that night after he reined Ima Spur to a gate to wire 2:01:3 victory over ABS Speedy Hall and driver "Tiny Tim' Miller in the other Billings division. "Lawbook Larry" Farley hustled Prime Number home for the show dough after the trotter made a break before the start.

Meanwhile at Scarborough Downs "The Downeaster" rushed Texas TNT for the lead from the eight-hole but Vladimir "Butch" Melnichenko, driving Best Way, carried Whitney's trotter nearly to the half way point before he yielded command.

Once on top, and despite being parked to the half, Texas TNT strolled home a length winner in a time of 2:04 over Chapri, with Scott "the Driving Doctor" Woogen at the reins. Melnichenko's, Best Way faded but held on for third money.

The other Scarborough Downs split saw George "the Brooklyn Cowboy" Casale score a short head victory with Earl Vic Dol in a 2:03 clocking when they held off a last charge by Dua Don N and driver "Fast Phillipe" Trudeau. Whitney guided the Malabar Touch home third best in that contest.

It marked the first seasonal Billings triumph for Casale and the 25th of his amateur career.

On Sunday, July 13 two eastern region Billings races will be contested at Bangor Raceway in Bangor, Maine.

John Manzi, Billings Publicist