by Todd Haight, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Western Regional Off-Track Betting and the Meadowlands Racetrack are pleased to partner once again in the National Harness Handicapping Contest it was announced today by Hank Nevins, OTB publicity director.

Nevins said, “The contest has been extremely well received by our customers and we look forward to starting it again.”

This year there will be 21 qualifying rounds held throughout the Western region. The top three finishers from each OTB location make the final to be held on April 27 at Batavia Downs Gaming. The winner of the final then goes to the Meadowlands on June 21 to compete for a top prize of $50,000.

There is no charge to play and patrons can enter as many contests as they choose but can only qualify once for the Batavia final. In the event one of the top three finishers has previously qualified, the fourth place finisher will make the final.

Sign up for all contests begins at 5:45 p.m. Patrons are required to handicap races 1-5 on the Meadowlands program and races 8-12 at Buffalo Raceway during all Wednesday night contests. On Friday nights, the contest races will be races 1-5 on the Meadowlands and 3-7 on Buffalo Raceway. Patrons can sign up to play until the start of the first contest race at 7:00 p.m.

Racing fans are required to select one horse in each contest race along with a back-up selection; the back-up selection will only be used if their first selection is a late scratch. The back-up selection will not be used if a patron selects a horse that was an early scratch.

Points will be awarded on how selections do. Players will receive five points if their selection wins, three points if their selection finishes second and one point if their selection finishes third. Patrons are also required to select one best bet in which they will receive double points for that particular race.

The person with the highest point total at the end of the 10 race contest receives a $25 betting voucher and will receive an additional $25 voucher if he or she are present when the final race results are posted. In the event of a tie, the patron whose total mutuel prices of winners selected is higher will be declared the winner.

The winner of the Batavia Downs final will receive a free entry in the National Harness Handicapping final in New Jersey, hotel accommodations for two nights at the Holiday Inn located near the Meadowlands Racetrack and $100 in spending money.

2008 Schedule

Friday, March 14
West Ridge—Newark—McKinley—Jamestown

Wednesday, March 19
Hudson—Tele-Theater—Seneca Falls

Wednesday, March 26
Lyell—Wehrle

Friday, March 28
Corning—Phoenix

Wednesday, April 2
Marway—Clinton

Friday, April 11
Transit—Olean—Auburn

Wednesday, April 16
Delaware—Jefferson—Hornell

Wednesday, April 23
Batavia ITW—Ridge Lea

Sunday, April 27
Batavia Downs Gaming Final