by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — After seven weeks and 35 races, Balmoral Park narrowed down a field of over 800 entrants to find Chicagoland’s harness handicapping champion.

Jeff Janusek of Beecher, Ill., claimed the 2008 top prize last Saturday night when he correctly chose four winners out of five designated contest races. Janusek, a longtime fan and staple of the Balmoral Park grandstand, brought home an $8,400 top prize, the Chicagoland harness handicapping champion bracelet, and a paid entry and trip to the National Harness Handicapping Championship to be held at the Meadowlands this summer.

Joining Jeff in the $50,000 top prize national contest will be second place Balmoral finisher Harold Henderson, who walked out of Balmoral with $4,100 on Saturday.