by Moira Fanning, publicity director, the Hambletonian Society

Cranbury, NJ — At the annual winter meeting of the Hambletonian Society on March 27, the board of directors voted to strongly endorse the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering program and applauds the success of the initial guaranteed pool efforts of Balmoral Park, Northfield Park and Cal Expo.

“Guaranteed or seeded pools have proven to attract gamblers for whom pool size is everything,” said Hambletonian Society president Tom Charters. “A unified attempt to make the Pick-4 pools attractive deserves praise for all involved. The USTA directors are on the right track with this promotion.”

In 2010 the Hambletonian Society and its host track partners of Meadowlands Racetrack, Yonkers and the SOA of NY promoted the added money Metro Shooter Pick-6. The Society and Mohegan Sun at Pocono offered an added money Pick-4 and Pick-6 on the 12-race Breeders Crown night at Pocono. Both lured gamblers, as have the large guaranteed Pick-4 pools offered by Woodbine and the Meadowlands.

In other business, the Society passed a resolution in honor of director Bob Anderson, who died suddenly in 2010. He was elected to the Hambletonian Society board in 2007.

Hambletonian No. 88, the race to be conducted in 2013, was also opened, with yearling payments to be taken on May 15, 2011. Those complete conditions can be found at this link under “conditions.”