from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — In Sunday night’s (March 8) USTA Free, Online WHHC Qualifying Series contest from Pompano Park, there was the first-ever tie at the end of 10 races. With bankrolls of $181.60 each, Gary Respecki was declared the winner over Greg Lovria on the basis of selecting five winners to four, respectively.

Respecki, from Canton, Mich., amassed the highest bankroll in the six qualifiers held so far and earned a berth into the World Harness Handicapping Championship at The Meadowlands on April 25. William Johnson finished third with $166.20.

On Friday night (March 6), Therie Lai from Chicago, Ill., was the winner of the fourth qualifier with races from Yonkers Raceway. Lai ($98.90) finished $10.10 ahead of runner-up Andrew Gilmore ($88.80) and Jay Kurtz was third with $83.60.

Alain Prather ($137.00) of Detroit, Mich., became the fifth qualifier to the WHHC Championship at The Meadowlands with a victory in Saturday’s (March 7) contest with races from Miami Valley Gaming. It was the first time that the Dayton, Ohio track participated in the USTA Series. Larry Denley finished second with $114 and William Rosick was third with $113.80.

The next two contests of the series will take place this weekend with racing from Maywood Park in Illinois at 8:10 p.m. (EDT) on Friday (March 13) followed by Buffalo Raceway on Saturday (March 14) at 6:35 p.m. (EDT). Note: First post time locally at Maywood Park is 7:10 p.m. CDT.

Registration for these two contests as well as the final two in the 10-race series, Saratoga Raceway on Friday (March 20) and Northville Down on Saturday (March 21) are now open at www.HorseTourneys.com.

Contestants can enter free at www.HorseTourneys.com prior to the start of the first race. Free TrackMaster Platinum Past Performances will be available on that site approximately 48 hours before each contest.

Following are the results/schedule with featured racetracks for the 2015 USTA Free, Online WHHC Qualifying Series:

Date–Track–Winner/Time (ET)
Fri. (Feb. 27)–Meadowlands–Adam Friedland (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Sat. (Feb. 28)–Balmoral Park–Brian Volakos (Forest Park, Ill.)
Sun. (March 1)–Cal Expo–Scott Nelson (Murrieta, Calif.)
Fri. (March 6)–Yonkers Raceway–Therie Lai (Chicago, Ill.)
Sat. (March 7)–Miami Valley Raceway–Alain Prather (Detroit, Mich.)
Sun. (March 8)–Pompano Park– Gary Respecki (Canton, Mich.)
Fri. (March 13)–Maywood Park–8:10 p.m. (7:10 p.m. Central)
Sat. (March 14)–Buffalo Raceway–6:35 p.m.
Fri. (March 20)–Saratoga Raceway–6:45 p.m.
Sat. (March 21)–Northville Downs–7:30 p.m.