For Opinion, click here for View from the Racetrack Grandstand

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Robert McMasters Wins 2014 World Harness Handicapping Championship

East Rutherford, NJ - Robert McMasters, 44, of Milford, Ohio captured the $16,600 grand prize in the 2014 World Harness Handicapping Championship on Saturday, April 19 at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment. 

McMasters finished the tournament with a $2,968 bankroll to top the field of 83 players from across North America who competed for $41,500 in prize money.  McMasters was an $800 tournament buy-in with two of his friends from Ohio.
 
The WHHC contest format required contestants to bet 10 races: seven Meadowlands races of their choice, plus one mandatory race each from Pompano, Buffalo and Meadowlands racetracks.  Bets had to meet a $30 minimum, $100 maximum per race.  Contestants could only bet one horse per race and wagers could either be win, place or a combination of the two. 

 McMasters  cashed on seven of his ten bets and took an early lead with a $2,403 score coming in the Meadowlands’ Race 2 with $40 to Win & $50 to Place on #1 (Rockin Wizard).  His final two plays of the night helped McMasters grab the grand prize with $60 to Win and $40 to place on #1 Verdad in the 12th from the Meadowlands putting him $68 out of first place.  His final wager of $30 to win on #4 Ok Fame in the Meadowlands’ 13th catapulted McMasters into the top spot by just $65.  He finished with a final bankroll of $2,968, taking home the $16,600 prize.

In addition to the Meadowlands, the following partner outlets sent players to compete in the 2014 WHHC: USTA, Buffalo Raceway, Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, The Meadowlands Racetrack & Casino, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Western OTB/Batavia Downs, Twinspires.com, and Standardbred Canada.

Top Ten Finishers:

First
Last
Bankroll
Prize $
Robert
McMasters
$2,968.00
$16,600.00
Gary
Machiz
$2,903.00
$8,300.00
Mike
Rip
$1,986.00
$6,225.00
Jeffrey
Arnold
$1,920.00
$4,150.00
Andy
Berg
$1,705.50
$2,075.00
Marino
Scianlepore
$1,560.00
$830.00
Ed
Cevetello
$916.00
$830.00
Walter
Andrasi
$768.00
$830.00
Vince
Sitoski
$663.00
$830.00
Gregg
Christopher
$632.50
$830.00