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 sixth session this Thursday (August 23) at 7 p.m. (EDT), with a focus on “Pace, Times and Track Bias.”

Serving as guest chat panelists are Bob Pandolfo and Scott Ehrlich. Pandolfo, AKA “Pandy,” has been a racing writer and handicapper for nearly 30 years. His popular “Pandycapping” column has appeared in many publications and on numerous websites, including Daily Racing Form, Sports Eye and ustrotting.com. He has also been published in Hoof Beats magazine, American Turf Monthly, and other publications. Ehrlich serves as Cal Expo’s track announcer and director of simulcast and publicity.

The interactive chat program will be hosted by T.J. Burkett, executive editor of Hoof Beats, the official magazine of the USTA, Tom Kelley, director of publicity and handicapper for Balmoral Park and Maywood Park, and Horse Player NOW’s Joe Kristufek. Kristufek, the co-founder of the Night School program along with Horse Player NOW partner Jeremy Plonk, offers a video introduction to the Night School program.

The participants will offer their opinions on the importance of pace, fractional and final times, and how to uncover track trends that can aid in both handicapping and wagering.

Via video, Daily Racing Form’s Derick Giwner will present topical insights, Kelley and Plonk provide “Crossover” discussions on pace and times, comparing and contrasting the Standardbred and Thoroughbred games, and drivers Dave Palone, Jody Jamieson and Corey Callahan offer their opinions on how pace and weather conditions affect race outcomes.

Pace/Times/Track Bias Intro Video Link

Harness Night School Session 6 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. Eastern time and continue through the Oct. 25 Breeders Crown Preview. 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.

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 17 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 and Yonkers, 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.

Upcoming Topics

August 30 (Thursday) 7 p.m. (EDT) – Trip Handicapping
September 6 (Thursday) 7 p.m. (EDT) – Handicapping A to Z/Using Technology
September 13 (Thursday) 7 p.m. (EDT) – Track Configurations