Billings begins 27th year on Monday at Mighty M

The 27^th season of the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Classic, often referred to as the “Grand Circuit of Amateur Racing,” commences Monday afternoon at Monticello Raceway and will continue with races in both the Eastern Region and the Midwest Region through November.

With over 50 venues on this year's schedule--10 of which will be north of the border in Canada--there will be ample opportunity for members to drive on various size racetracks in urban, suburban and bucolic settings.

At Monticello Raceway nine horses were entered but only six met conditions and they will battle in the first Billings leg of the season, which, by the way is a wild-card leg, meaning points earned by the drivers are good in either the Eastern or Midwest region competitions.

Among the drivers competing on Monday is George “the Brooklyn Cowboy” Casale who’ll handle Perfect Gerry (7-2) from the rail position. Last year Casale finished seventh on the East Region leaderboard.

Earlier this month in the annual East-West Amateur Challenge at Cal Expo in Sacramento, Cal., Casale, driving for the East team, reined two winners and had a second-place finish in the six-race competition which is organized annually by David Siegel.

Also with two wins under his belt thus far this year is Todd “the Downeaster” Whitney  who was fourth  in total points last year. Whitney’s two victories this season came at  Scarborough Downs in Maine. He’ll drive Sand Whisper (4-1) and start from the two hole.

And Bob “the Headhunter” Heckoff sports a driving victory this year having won the Passover Pace at Monticello Raceway on April 22. Hechkoff will team Rainbow Review (3-1) from post position six.

Rounding out the field are Gerry “the Catskill Cat” Fielding who’ll handle American Charmer and start from post five, and Terry “the Dairy Queen” Donnelly, who’ll drive favored Jay A Novak (5-2) and leave from the three hole. 

The next action in Billings 2008 will take place in the Midwest at Jackson Raceway on Friday, May 9, and in the East races will be at Pocono Downs in Wilkes Barre, Pa., on Monday, May 12. (Billings)

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