Welcome to the 2017 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge being presented by HANA Harness.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
2017 Hambletonian GC Handicapping Challenge Adds Sponsors
Reaches
Record Prize Fund of $7,500 to benefit Standardbred Rescue
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
HANA Harness Announces 2017 Hambletonian Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge
(February 21, 2017) - HANA Harness is pleased to announce the return of its handicapping challenge to benefit standardbred rescue for its sixth running. The 2017 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge sponsored by DRF Harness, Green Acquisition Corporation, The Hambletonian Society, Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, Tioga Downs, Wellbourne Farms, and Vernon Downs kicks off on Friday, March 17 with the first leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series at Yonkers Raceway, concluding on November 30 with the Progress Stakes at Dover Downs.
Wellbourne Farms joins our roster of gold sponsors with this edition of the contest. New to our handicapping roster are Steve Horoky, Megan Maccario, and Terry Wilson who will join the panel of handicappers in battling for handicapping supremacy and their share of the prize pool which now stands at $5,000. Through the prior five iterations, approximately $25,000 has been awarded to deserving rescues.
The rules have been changed this year to emphasize a handicapper's overall performance on a daily basis with points being awarded based on their placing each contest day. In addition to awarding prize funds to the rescues of the top three handicappers, a prize will be awarded to the rescue of the handicapper who has the highest net profit in the contest. Rescue assignments will be drawn prior to the contest kick-off.
Sponsorship opportunities remain at the Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels. Racetracks, horsemen associations, and other businesses involved in harness racing are welcome to join the current sponsors in doing their part supporting standardbred rescue. For further information concerning sponsorship opportunities, contact allan@hanweb.com.
Wellbourne Farms joins our roster of gold sponsors with this edition of the contest. New to our handicapping roster are Steve Horoky, Megan Maccario, and Terry Wilson who will join the panel of handicappers in battling for handicapping supremacy and their share of the prize pool which now stands at $5,000. Through the prior five iterations, approximately $25,000 has been awarded to deserving rescues.
The rules have been changed this year to emphasize a handicapper's overall performance on a daily basis with points being awarded based on their placing each contest day. In addition to awarding prize funds to the rescues of the top three handicappers, a prize will be awarded to the rescue of the handicapper who has the highest net profit in the contest. Rescue assignments will be drawn prior to the contest kick-off.
Sponsorship opportunities remain at the Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels. Racetracks, horsemen associations, and other businesses involved in harness racing are welcome to join the current sponsors in doing their part supporting standardbred rescue. For further information concerning sponsorship opportunities, contact allan@hanweb.com.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Hochstetler Crowned Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Champion
(November 29, 2016) – Jay Hochstetler has been crowned the champion
of the 2016 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge sponsored
by DRF Harness, Green Acquisition
Corporation, The Hambletonian Society, Hoosier Park Racing and Casino,
Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, The Raceway at Western Fair District, Red Shores
Charlottetown Driving Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs after crossing the
wire first in a dominating victory; his total of 3,631.13 points being 635.31
more than runner-up Matt Rose who finished with 2,995.83. Sally Hinckley finished third with a tally of
2,900.88.
The second-half champion,
Rose by virtue of his second half total of 1,893.78 points over Hochstetler’s
second half tally of 1,789.10 earned an additional $250 for his winning rescue,
Starting Gaits Standardbred Transition Program.
By virtue of his first place
finish, Hochstetler’s rescue of choice, Central Virginia Horse Rescue earns the
bulk of the prize fund with a donation of $2,500. Rose’s rescue, Starting Gaits will be a
recipient of an additional $1,400 (excluding the $250 second half donation)
while Rainhill Sanctuary, Hinckley’s rescue picks up the third place prize of $600. $1,000 will be sent to Canadian rescues in honor of Hochstetler's victory.
HANA Harness which has been
providing scoring for the contest would like to thank in addition to our Gold
Sponsors, our Silver Sponsors, Dr. Adam Friedland and Eldorado Gaming – Scioto
Downs for their sponsorship of this year’s contest which allowed us to have a
record prize fund of $6,000 to benefit Standardbred Horse Rescue
Plans are underway for next year’s
edition of the Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge. Any North American handicapper who would like
to be considered as a contestant next year are welcome to inquire by contacting
allan@hanaweb.org.
HANA Harness is looking for
sponsors of next year’s event as well.
Those interested in participating in this worthwhile effort to support
American Standardbred Rescues via sponsorship should contact HANA Harness at allan@hanaweb.org.
FINAL - 2nd Half and Overall Standings
|
|||||||
Position
|
Handicapper
|
Points This Week
|
Total Points
|
Points Back
|
Overall Position
|
Overall Points
|
Overall Points Back
|
1st
|
Matt Rose
|
10.90
|
1,893.78
|
-
|
2nd
|
2,995.83
|
635.31
|
2nd
|
Jay Hochstetler (FHW)
|
11.90
|
1,842.03
|
51.74
|
1st
|
3,631.13
|
-
|
3rd
|
Sally Hinckley
|
19.60
|
1,731.01
|
162.77
|
3rd
|
2,900.88
|
730.25
|
4th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
0.00
|
1,581.41
|
312.37
|
5th
|
2,749.89
|
881.25
|
5th
|
Ray Garnett
|
10.90
|
1,505.93
|
387.85
|
12th
|
2,294.70
|
1,336.43
|
6th
|
Dennis O'Hara
|
8.30
|
1,478.08
|
415.70
|
7th
|
2,654.98
|
976.16
|
7th
|
Adam Friedland
|
0.00
|
1,477.08
|
416.70
|
6th
|
2,723.23
|
907.91
|
8th
|
Russ Adams
|
0.00
|
1,470.25
|
423.53
|
8th
|
2,651.18
|
979.96
|
9th
|
Anne Stepien
|
29.90
|
1,466.43
|
427.35
|
10th
|
2,402.93
|
1,228.21
|
10th
|
Rusty Nash
|
5.70
|
1,463.26
|
430.52
|
4th
|
2,759.41
|
871.73
|
11th
|
Mark Deutsch
|
37.20
|
1,348.13
|
545.65
|
11th
|
2,326.33
|
1,304.81
|
12th
|
Michael Carter
|
35.50
|
1,322.73
|
571.05
|
9th
|
2,415.28
|
1,215.86
|
13th
|
Bryan Owen
|
0.00
|
1,167.60
|
726.18
|
13th
|
2,144.88
|
1,486.26
|
14th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
6.20
|
1,154.35
|
739.43
|
14th
|
1,949.88
|
1,681.26
|
15th
|
Joe Bengston
|
13.90
|
818.08
|
1075.70
|
15th
|
1,733.43
|
1,897.71
|
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge Coming to the Wire
(November 20, 2016) – After seventy-nine legs, the 2016 Hambletonian
Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge sponsored by DRF
Harness, Green Acquisition Corporation, The Hambletonian Society, Hoosier
Park Racing and Casino, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, The Raceway at Western Fair District, Red Shores Charlottetown
Driving Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs is coming down to the wire. While for the most part payoff positions have been wrapped up, there
is still a race on for second half champion as Matt Rose (1,882.88 points) is
seeking to hold off first half champion Jay Hochstetler (1,830.13 pts.) with
two contest dates remaining and 52.74 points separating the two handicappers. Hochstetler will be the overall champion while
Rose leads Sally Hinckley by 103.64 points for the runner-up position which
should hold up barring shockers in the final two legs.
However, this past weekend
was Final Four weekend at Woodbine Racetrack and when the points were tallied,
Ray Garnett came out on top, earning 46.2 points for two winners, besting Russ
Adams with 45.58 points and Hochstetler with 38.7 points also with two winners,
the difference attributable to Garnett’s selection of Thats The Ticket ($13.70)
in the Three Diamonds Final.
This
year’s edition of the Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge comes to a conclusion
with The Courageous Lady, Saturday (November 26) at Northfield Park and the
Progress Stake at Dover Downs on Monday (November 28).
Racing fans may continue getting
the handicappers’ selections and other contest-related information such as the
complete standings from HANA Harness’ contest website http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.
|
2nd Half and Overall Standings
|
|||||||
|
Position
|
Handicapper
|
Points This Week
|
Total Points
|
Points Back
|
Overall Position
|
Overall Points
|
Overall Points Back
|
|
1st
|
Matt Rose
|
22.20
|
1,882.88
|
0.00
|
2nd
|
2984.93
|
634.31
|
|
2nd
|
Jay Hochstetler (FHW)
|
38.70
|
1,830.13
|
52.74
|
1st
|
3619.23
|
0.00
|
|
3rd
|
Sally Hinckley
|
11.20
|
1,711.41
|
171.47
|
3rd
|
2881.28
|
737.95
|
|
4th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
12.50
|
1,581.41
|
301.47
|
5th
|
2749.89
|
869.35
|
|
5th
|
Ray Garnett
|
46.20
|
1,495.03
|
387.85
|
12th
|
2283.80
|
1,335.43
|
|
6th
|
Adam Friedland
|
14.50
|
1,477.08
|
405.80
|
6th
|
2723.23
|
896.01
|
|
7th
|
Russ Adams
|
45.58
|
1,470.25
|
412.63
|
7th
|
2651.18
|
968.06
|
|
8th
|
Dennis O'Hara
|
18.80
|
1,469.78
|
413.10
|
8th
|
2646.68
|
972.56
|
|
9th
|
Rusty Nash
|
12.60
|
1,457.56
|
425.32
|
4th
|
2753.71
|
865.53
|
|
10th
|
Anne Stepien
|
18.80
|
1,436.53
|
446.35
|
10th
|
2373.03
|
1,246.21
|
|
11th
|
Mark Deutsch
|
21.50
|
1,310.93
|
571.95
|
11th
|
2289.13
|
1,330.11
|
|
12th
|
Michael Carter
|
24.50
|
1,287.23
|
595.65
|
9th
|
2379.78
|
1,239.46
|
|
13th
|
Bryan Owen
|
0.00
|
1,167.60
|
715.28
|
13th
|
2144.88
|
1,474.36
|
|
14th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
14.60
|
1,148.15
|
734.73
|
14th
|
1943.68
|
1,675.56
|
|
15th
|
Joe Bengston
|
0.00
|
804.18
|
1078.70
|
15th
|
1719.53
|
1,899.71
|
#30#
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