Clevenger wins Amateur Driving
Championship
Wednesday,
September 07, 2005 - by David Siegel
Sacramento, CA --- It
was to be a battle of male versus female, young versus,
well, not-as-young, as 21-year-old Tim Clevenger was all set
to guide Altiora Peto around the Cal-Expo oval in the finale
of the TVG California Amateur Driving Championship on Labor
Day. But after scoring down, he felt something was off with
the gelding. He brought him into the paddock and together
with trainer Tom Wine, decided to scratch the horse.
Sue Boyce, coming into the finale in second place in the
standings loomed large as her entry, the Rick Plano-trained
Improved Wealth, had won the week prior with Sue doing the
driving. Sue began driving in the 1970s, before Clevenger
was born, and had not driven since 2000. But she was back!
Like a leader in the clubhouse, Tim could only wait. His
destiny was in Sue’s hands.
Myron Amman darted out of the gate with his charge,
Unequalled Stamina, to a seven length lead. It looked
insurmountable and in the end, it was. Sue finished third,
but was placed second after an objection launched by another
driver. Sue ended up the series in second and Myron in
third.
14 different drivers raced in the four week event sponsored
by TVG. More than 20 trainers entered horses. The event
raised over $2,000 for Saddle Pals, an equine therapeutic
riding center benefiting physically and mentally challenged
children in the Sacramento area. A check was presented to
the group in the winner’s circle and the California Amateur
Driving Club (CADC) and the California State Fair made a
trophy presentation to the top three drivers.
The series winner, Tim Clevenger, will now represent the
recently reborn CADC in the Tim Fouts Memorial race to take
place on Sunday, September 18 at Delaware, Ohio during Jug
week.
Clevenger remarked, “I am really excited about driving over
the same track that the industry’s best have raced on. Being
so far away from all other tracks, we don’t get to see other
drivers and horses out here in California. I am really
looking forward to meeting folks from around the country.”
Asked about not being able to drive in the last leg of the
series Tim remarked, “Winning is great, but driving is what
I like to do, and I am sorry I could not be in the finale.
It would not have been fair to Peto to race him. I was
excited about it coming down to the wire between me and Sue
and I am glad she did so well her last three races in the
series.”
David Siegel, CADC president commented, “The Fair and Dave
Elliott in particular, TVG and the horsemen have been so
wonderfully supportive of our efforts. The handle was on par
with the rest of the races, we had more drivers than we
could even use, and the amateurs were truly excited and
supportive of one another. I really could not have asked for
more. While we all want to have fun racing, our goal is to
show potential owners that amateur driving could be in their
future if they purchase a Standardbred. I have already
received several inquiries, so I think we are on our way.”
