from Horse Player NOW

Chicago, IL — Harness Night School, the racing industry’s national online fan education program dedicated to the Standardbred set, offers a 15th session on Thursday (Oct. 25) at 7 p.m. (EDT), split between “Money Management” and a “Breeders Crown Preview.”

The panel will discuss methods of maximizing the betting dollar, and how to take advantage of one’s top plays within the confines of the wagering menu. In addition, a preview of Saturday’s Breeders Crown card will be offered. For the second year in a row, Woodbine Racetrack will host all 12 Breeders Crown championship finals, offering more than $6 million in purses. It is the richest day of the year of horse racing in Canada.

Harness Night School is FREE to all users. Set a reminder for Thursday’s session, and enter the chat room here.

Serving as guest panelists this week will be trainer Tony Alagna and racing analyst Dave Brower.

Tony Alagna has burst onto the Grand Circuit scene with a string of impressive performers. A former assistant to trainer Erv Miller, the 40-year-old has the top 2-year-old pacing colt in North America in Metro Pace and Woodrow Wilson winner Captaintreacherous. He sends this one into this weekend’s Breeders Crown, along with Rockaround Sue (3-year-old filly pace), Handover Belle (2-year-old filly trot), Wake Up Peter (2-year-old colt pace), Mel Mara (3-year-old colt pace), and Mr Chicago (3-year-old colt trot).

A Week Eight guest for the “Handicapping A to Z/Using Technology” session, Dave Brower returns as a panelist. An avid harness racing fan since age 10, Brower has worked in just about every aspect of the sport in the 33 years since. He has served as a groom, trained horses, operated the race teletimer, worked in public relations, and he was the morning line odds-maker and track handicapper for the Meadowlands Racetrack for 16 years from 1996 to 2011.

Brower co-hosted this year’s Hambletonian broadcast on the CBS Sports Network and appeared on the nightly “Racing from the Meadowlands” television program on SNY, Fox Sports New York, and MSG Networks. He also provided on-site analysis and interviews during TVG’s “Drive Time” with Gary Seibel. He’s joined Dave Johnson and Bill Finley on their Eclipse Award winning “Down The Stretch” on Sirius/XM satellite radio. Brower also wrote “Harnessing Winners: The Complete Guide to Handicapping Harness Races,” which was published by Daily Racing Form’s press division in 2009. Since leaving the Meadowlands, he’s become a social media consultant.

The interactive chat program will be hosted by T.J. Burkett, executive editor of Hoof Beats, the official magazine of the USTA, and Tom Kelley, director of publicity and handicapper for Balmoral Park and Maywood Park. Via video, Daily Racing Form’s Derick Giwner provides topical insight.

Saturday’s 16th and final Harness Night School session of the year will be a “Breeders Crown Field Trip.” The full card chat, hosted by Horse Player NOW’s Terry Turrell with contributions from Kelley and Burkett, will kick off at 6 p.m. (EDT). It can be accessed through regular Night School channels.

Money Management/Breeders Crown Preview Intro with Joe Kristufek, Tom Kelley and T.J. Burkett Video Link.

Harness Night School Session 15 Study Materials.

Harness Night School is FREE to all fans, and no advanced sign-up is required. The 90-minute classes will be held each Thursday at 7 p.m. (EDT) and continue through the Oct. 27 Breeders Crown Field Trip. A different handicapping subject will be featured weekly as well as a look at the weekend’s major harness races on the USTA’s Strategic Wagering schedule, and a fun and informative “TK versus TJ” weekly side bet. Heading into the final session, our combatants are tied at six wins apiece. Thursday Night’s side bet challenge is a heads up “seven-card stud” poker hand, featuring best bet Breeders Crown selections.

Title sponsor for Harness Night School is the United States Trotting Association, in conjunction with presenting sponsor and content provider Daily Racing Form. Harness Night School’s supporting sponsor is Meadowlands Racetrack. Founded by Horse Player NOW’s Joe Kristufek and Jeremy Plonk, the Night School brand has provided fan education courses throughout the racing industry over the past 20 months and has been viewed live or in archives by more than 400,000 racing enthusiasts from newbies to hardcore handicappers.

Harness Night School runs separately from the regular Tuesday editions of Night School. The Harness Night School classes will be available at three websites for the initial season — www.ustrotting.com, www.drf.com and www.horseplayernow.com. Each week, fans will receive free, downloadable study materials and be eligible to win prizes by simply registering. The courses are free to anyone from any computer.

Following each Thursday night edition of Harness Night School, fans will be directed to www.drf.com for an “After Night School Special” featuring live racing video from top national tracks such as the Meadowlands, Yonkers and Maywood, as well as expert live commentary, interactive fan chats, free giveaways and more. Fans are encouraged to join the e-mail list at www.Horseplayernow.com for updated news.