by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — The Crestwood OTB will host the second Meadowlands Classic Tournament of 2014 on Saturday night. Check in will be from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. The tournament players will all bet a mythical $2,000 on five designated races from The Big M. The Saturday contest players will make five separate $200 win and place wagers on races 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 on the Saturday Meadowlands program. The top four qualifiers will come back for race 12 with the player with the highest total bankroll for the night winning the first prize of $1,000.

Maywood Park and Illinois OTB presented the first of six consecutive January handicapping contests Friday, January 3 at Maywood Park. After an exciting evening of racing and handicapping Ronald Mazur got John Campbell and Mystical Diva to hold on by a neck to win the final race of the night to secure the first prize of $1,000. Mike Tranchitella needed Ron Pierce to get up with 14-1 longshot Up Front Kellie Jo but just missed winning the tournament in the final strides. Tranchitella received a second place prize of $300. Low to cash Friday was a bankroll of $2,480, a profit of $480 for the tournament.

The contests will also be held the next two weekends in January. Friday contests, January 10 and 17 will be conducted at Maywood Park Racetrack. The Saturday contests will be January 11 at Lucky Magee’s OTB in Niles and the final contest will be offered on Saturday January 18 at the Oak Brook Terrace OTB.

All six contests with total cash prizes of $12,000 will be conducted with The Meadowlands as the host track. In the event The Big M is cancelled, a substitute racetrack will be offered for the contest. Entry is free with a ten dollar purchase which this Saturday includes a simulcast program, a six dollar food and beverage ticket and two free admissions to Maywood Park live program.

The prize list for each of the six contests is identical with $2,000 in cash prizes guaranteed nightly. Tournament players that finish in spots 10 thru 15 will receive $25, Players finishing in spots 5 thru 9 receive $50. The breakdown for the top four spots every night is fourth place $100, third place $200, second place $300 and the top prize nightly is $1,000.

Additional Information for the winter handicapping tournaments is available at www.maywoodpark.com.