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Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Hinckley Wins Week; Nash on Top in HGCHC

(July 11, 2017) –   After three days of competition (July 7-9), Sally Hinckley was the top handicapper earning 129.84 points for the week in the Hambletonian Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge but when the action was completed, it was Rusty Nash who opened a lead of 20 points, the biggest lead in this year’s contest.

Hinckley managed to be the week’s winner, winning the Friday night stanza at the Meadowlands in a squeaker as she was one of five handicappers with two winners tagged but she was the victor by earning $7 more than second place Russ Adams.  On Saturday evening, Hinckley finished in third with one winner and $2.60 behind leg victor Gordon Waterstone.  Sundays’ special leg at Summerside Raceway found Hinckley one of six handicappers who dead-heated for the win, selecting both heavy favorites in the Governor’s Plate eliminations.

In the overall contest, Rusty Nash earned 71.84 points, giving him the lead with 471.95 points, 20.82 points ahead of Matt Rose whose 451.13 points allowed him to move from third to second.  Megan Maccario slips from second to third with 440.48 points.  This week’s winner Hinckley moved up from eighth to sixth with this week’s performance.


Standings as of Sunday, July 9, 2017 - Leg #28
Pos
Handicapper
Total Points Earned
Legs Won
Last Leg
Streak
1st
Rusty Nash
471.95
6
2nd
1
2nd
Matt Rose
451.13
5
1st
3rd
Megan Maccario
440.48
5
3rd

4th
Russ Adams
426.12
5
4th

5th
Gordon Waterstone
413.75
5
5th
6th
Sally Hinckley
391.98
5
7th
7th
Ray Garnett
390.86
3
6th
8th
Dennis O’Hara
379.68
5
8th
9th
Jay Hochstetler
311.75
3
9th
10th
Steve Horoky
265.41
2
10th
11th
Michael Carter
265.03
3
11th
12th
Bryan Owen
237.23
2
12th
13th
Anne Stepien
232.15
3
15th
14th
Adam Friedland
219.80
1
14th
15th
Terry Wilson
215.47
2
13th
16th
Ray Cotolo
170.33
1
16th



Next Up:  This week, two year old pacers of both sexes do battle in the Kindergarten series at the Meadowlands Friday evening.  Saturday has the Meadowlands Pace highlighting the racing action which will include the Delvin Miller Memorial, Stanley Dancer Memorial. Mistletoe Shalee, Hambletonian Maturity, and Golden Girls; the Lawrence B Sheppard final at Yonkers Raceway.  The following week, Friday night features another leg of the Kindergarten Series for two year old pacers and trotters at the Meadowlands while Saturday night older pacers will compete in the final of the Joe Gerrity Memorial at Saratoga Harness.

The 2017 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge is sponsored by Adam Friedland, DRF Harness, Green Acquisition Corporation, The Hambletonian Society, Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, Ontario Harness Horse Association, Red Shores Charlottetown/Summerside, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Wellbourne Farms, and WEG Entertainment.  The contest is administered by HANA Harness, the harness racing division of HANA, the Horseplayers Association of North America.  Fans may follow the challenge by visiting the contest site at http;//hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com