from HANA Harness

The Horseplayers Association of North America’s harness racing division, in association with the Hambletonian Society, Meadowlands Racetrack, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs is pleased to announce “The Pen vs. The Chip — The Road to the Breeders Crown Handicapping Challenge.”

This handicapping contest pits four ‘Pen’ (regular) handicappers against four ‘Chip’ (computer program) handicappers involving selected race cards of various tracks across North America. The contest will end with the Breeders Crown, this year held at Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack.

“HANA Harness is pleased to be presenting The Pen vs. The Chip Challenge this year,” said HANA President Jeff Platt. “We’ve decided to have the competition feature stake races which will be on the road to the Breeders Crown. Since many racetracks put together strong race cards to support these stake races, racing fans should have quality competitive races to wager on. With many of these tracks having guaranteed pools, we hope our Thoroughbred and quarter horse members and others will take advantage of the opportunity to see some of the best harness racing available. I would also like to thank our main sponsor, the Hambletonian Society, Meadowlands Racetrack, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, and our associate sponsors who have committed to making donations to Standardbred horse rescue groups as part of the challenge.”

The Hambletonian Society, Meadowlands Racetrack, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs are main sponsors, with associate sponsorships being provided thus far by the Delaware County Fair, Grand River Raceway, Harrington Raceway, Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, Indiana Downs, and Woodbine Entertainment. Additional sponsors may be announced at a later date.

“The Hambletonian Society is happy to co-sponsor this HANA contest, as it includes several important Grand Circuit events that lead up to the $6 million Breeders Crown at Woodbine,” said Moira Fanning, Director of Publicity for the Hambletonian Society. “We may also finally settle the question as to whether handicapping is an art or a science, and benefit retired Standardbreds as well.”

Representing the ‘Pen’ handicappers are Scott Alberg, a professional handicapper, who provides his Meadowlands selections at www.4njpicks.com; Matt Keller, otherwise known as Mr. Trifecta. Matt has his own website (www.mrtrifecta.com) where he provides his handicapping insight typically on races at Isle Casino and Racing Pompano Park and Balmoral and Maywood Parks; Mark McKelvie, son of Woodbine Race Secretary Scott McKelvie, who has participated in numerous handicapping contests; Bob Zanakis, who has his own website at http://bobbyzpicksattheraces.horizon-host.com/index.htm where he handicaps several tracks.

Representing the ‘Chip’ handicappers are Bob Pandolfo (‘Pandy’) who uses the Diamond System Computer Handicapping System and offers his selections at www.handicappingwinners.com; Earl Paulson, also known as Earl the Pearl, a former handicapper for Sports Eye who developed a computer program he has been tweaking over the last 20 years. He runs an online harness racing group at MerryGoRoundRacing@yahoogroups.com; Ray Schell, who posts his selections on the PaceAdvantage message board daily as Rays Robots; and Trackmaster’s Chatsworth Consortium which is available at www.trackmaster.com/harness/select/.

The winner of the competition will have a donation made in their name to a Standardbred rescue group of their choice. Some tracks will be making donations in the name of the overall winner of the dates at their track to a local Standardbred rescue group.

The challenge kicks off on April 28 at Yonkers Raceway when the final of the George Morton Levy Memorial Series is contested. The contest will continue on with additional stops at Balmoral Park, Delaware County Fair, Flamboro Downs, Freehold Raceway, Georgian Downs, Grand River Raceway, Harrah’s Chester, Harrington Raceway, Hazel Park, Indiana Downs, Meadowlands, The Meadows, Mohawk Racetrack, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Northfield Park, The Raceway at Western Fair District, The Red Mile, Red Shores Charlottetown, Rideau Carleton, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Woodbine Racetrack, and Yonkers Raceway.

A complete list of contest dates, rules, results and standings may be found at the contest website.

HANA Harness is the harness racing division of the Horseplayers Association of North America. HANA, established in 2008, has grown to over 2,500 members. To join HANA Harness please visit this link and sign up. It’s free!