(March 29 2013) – The
Horseplayers Association of North America’s (HANA) harness racing division in
association with the Hambletonian Society, Chicago Harness (Balmoral and Maywood
Parks), The Meadowlands, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs is pleased to announce
“The 2013 Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge”.
The format of this year’s
competition is a change from past Pen vs. Chip competitions as it doesn’t matter
which type of handicapping method a handicapper uses as long as it is their
own. In addition, instead of
handicapping complete race cards, the contest focuses only on Grand Circuit
races. Using the Grand Circuit schedule,
excluding most elimination races, handicappers will be given $30 to wager as
they will on race finals or in the case of races being contested in divisions,
on one or more of the divisions. Each
gambler must invest the full $30 or they will be penalized. The handicapper with the highest net profit
after the last Grand Circuit race of the year will be the champion. The contest begins and concludes at
Northfield Park; beginning on April 26 with the Courageous Lady and concluding
on December 14 with the Cleveland Classic and includes 74 contest dates and 230
individual races. Rules and the Schedule of
Races may be
found at the contest website.
Another difference this year
is the prize money, donations to standardbred rescues will not be winner
takes-all. The sponsorship funds will be
donated to standardbred rescues designated by our top three handicappers in a
50-35-15% breakdown, thus allowing more rescues to benefit. While additional sponsorship money may be
forthcoming, $2,500 has already been pledged by our sponsors.
“HANA Harness is pleased to be
presenting 2013 Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge this year.” said HANA
President Jeff Platt, “We’ve decided to focus on the Grand Circuit races in an
effort to support the revival of the Grand Circuit which features quality
racing. I would also like to thank all our sponsors for providing sponsorship
money which will help support standardbred rescues that are doing great work on
behalf of our retired equine athletes”.
“We are pleased and excited that HANA has
chosen to feature the retooled Grand Circuit as their contest races”, stated
John Campbell, Grand Circuit President,
“Hopefully the fans will enjoy following along with the races and the contest.
We also want to thank the sponsors who allow this contest to support
standardbred rescue”.
HANA would like to invite all
harness horseplayers to the contest
blog, which will analyze and
discuss the upcoming races from a handicapping perspective. The blog will also
offer handicapping information and selections from our handicappers, all
successful horseplayers and when available, links to free past performances or
handicapping information.
HANA
Harness is the Harness Racing Division of the Horseplayers Association of North
America (HANA). HANA, established in 2008 has grown to over 2500 members. To
join HANA Harness please visit this link:
http://www.horseplayersassociation.org/ and sign up. It’s
free!
