The Hall of Fame Amateur Racing Series began last winter in Florida at Pompano Park with subsequent legs contested at Historic Track and the Meadowlands. The culmination of the series was in Delaware, Ohio on Jug Day, September 21. That well-contested final saw Ned Hodkinson and his veteran trotter Mutinyonthebounty rally in the final strides to notch a stunning victory in 1:58.4.
Previous series winners included Steve Oldford, Dein Spriggs, and Hannah Miller.
On Thursday, at the home of the Little Brown Jug, Hodkinson was content to allow Spriggs to cut the fractions with Rompaway Beau. Hodkinson stalked the leader throughout and overtook him at the top of the stretch before holding off late rushes by both Gregg Keidel’s Tinder and Kween Mightus, driven by Peter Gerry. They finished second and third, respectively.
Owned and also trained by Hodkinson, Mutinyonthebounty was sent off at odds of over 8-1 and returned $18.80 to all his supporters.
The HOF Amateur Series is the brainchild of both Museum Trustee, Steve Oldford, and Dein Spriggs, who is currently running for the USTA Director position from District 6.
Says Spriggs, “This amateur series was, and is intended, to raise funds for the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, NY as well as increasing membership to the museum."
The starting fees collected from the participating amateur drivers along with matching funds totalled more than $10,000 this season, with hopes that number will increase precipitously in future seasons.
“This year, our first, we raised over $10,000 for the Museum and Hall of Fame and we gained members for the Harness Racing Museum,” said Steve Oldford.
According to Oldford, the 2018 Hall of Fame Amateur Series will commence at Lexington Kentucky’s Red Mile Thursday,,October 5.
“We’ll be renaming the track’s Gentleman’s Amateur Trot to now be known as the Hall of Fame Amateur Drivers Series Trot, with all starting fees and other ancillary levies to be donated to the Harness Racing Museum,” Oldford added.
The entire schedule for the 2018 HOF Amateur Series will be forthcoming.
(HOF Amateur Series)