It'll be back to the way racing used to be over the track that has been in existence since the 1830's and the place where the sports great progenitor, Hambletonian was shown to the attending crowds on numerous occasions back in the 1850's.

Three nine horse "wild card" divisions are on tap on Friday, July 3 and will go as races five, nine and 11 on the 11-race card that afternoon.

Headlining the competing Billings colony drivers is "Tar Heel Tom" Williams last years ‘Amateur Driver of the Year" and current point leader in both the Eastern and Midwest Regions. Williams will handle Colonial Mansion who's a non-winner thus far this season and they'll start from the eight hole in the fifth race, the first Billings division.

However, in that contest Williams will have to deal with Todd "the Downeaster" Whitney and Slow Poker, a winner of one of four races this year who will start from post position seven and CJ's Not A Clue with driver Don "We're Ready To Draw" Hoover, the racing secretary at Saratoga Raceway . Hoover's trotter was a recent 2:00:2 winner at Vernon Downs.

The second division, race nine, arguably the best of the three, features Steve" You're Never Too" Oldford and his trotter Eng-amer Bobby who already have won two Billings splits this season. They'll tussle with San Siro Lane and "Joltin' Joe" Pennacchio also two-time Billings winners this year. And don't discount Highmaker with Eric "the Driving NYC Fireman" Taddeo. Together they're owners of a 2:03:4 record in Billings competition this year and Taddeo will have the home track advantage since he stables his trotter at Goshen.

Oldford's Eng-amer Bobby will start from post position three while Pennacchio's San Siro Lane will race away from the two-hole. Taddeo's Highmaker will be on the outside in post position seven.

In the final Billings division Paul "the Coach" Minore and "Daring Dave" Pozefsky will lock horns. Minore, who is one-for-one in Billings competition this year will handle Chuckie Lang, who is winless in12 seasonal starts while Pozefsky will be up behind Say Cheese, already a 2:00 winner on a double oval this year.

With 14 preliminary legs already contested in the eastern region the following is the top ten in points in that category. Tom Williams 56 points are eight more than runner-up Steve" You're Never Too" Oldford's, 48. They are followed by Eric Taddeo (47); Tony "the Capo" Verruso (45), Dave "Yes It's True" Offenberg (44); "Joe Pennacchio (42) Rob "Rapid Rail" Krivelin (37) Todd Whitney (36) George "the Brooklyn Cowboy" Casale (33); and Terry "the Dairy Queen" Donnelly and Vladimir "Butch" Melnichenko are tied for 10th each with 31 points.

With 12 legs in the books in the Midwest Region Williams' 55 points leads Steve Oldford's 49 by six. They're followed by Tony Verruso (38); Dave "Linemaster" Ehrenberg (37); Dave Offenberg (33); Joe Pennacchio (29) and Eric Taddeo (29). Rounding out the top ten are Todd Whitney (28), Mike "the Mortgage Man" Mitchell (27) and Terry Donnelly (25).

Some may wonder why the same drivers are among the leaders in both Billings divisions. It is because many of the early season Billings contests were wild card events which meant that the participating drivers earned points in both the Midwest and Eastern Regions.

Post time for a great afternoon of old-time racing -no wagering and crowds around the horses and barns---at Goshen is 1p.m.

John MANZI