by Ayers Ratliff, for Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Northfield Park is the place to watch and wager on this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup races as the Rt. 8 oval becomes a horseplayer’s paradise, offering a record $7,900 in prize money through a grand slam of free handicapping contests.

The action kicks off Friday with a $2,000 Breeders’ Cup handicapping contest on the four BC races on the Santa Anita card. First post time at the Arcadia, Calif., track is 2:25 p.m. (EDT). Post time for the first Breeders’ Cup race is 5:25 p.m., giving fans plenty of time to become members of Northfield’s Players Club, which is free and makes them eligible for all contests. Registration is from 4-5:25 p.m. Friday and from 1:30-3 p.m. on Saturday.

In addition to Friday’s BC races and the handicapping contest that offers $1,000 to the winner, WAKR will broadcast live from the track from 2-7 p.m. with Brad Russell, Jasen Sokol and Sam Bourquin on the microphones.

Fans can also take advantage of the $5 food special (patty melt and fries) as well as a $3 Miller Lite and Labatt beer special (16 oz. cans).

Saturday is the richest day of prize money for astute handicappers. In addition to another $2,000 Breeders’ Cup handicapping contest (on the nine BC races), Northfield is also hosting a $2,000 Beat the Railbird competition, with any and all entrants picking more winners than Bob Roberts, who for more than 30 years was the “Railbird” at the Cleveland Press and Plain Dealer, sharing in the jackpot.

If any Players Club member sweeps Friday and Saturday’s regular BC contests, he or she will be awarded a $1,000 bonus.

To jumpstart Breeders’ Cup Saturday, Roberts and Northfield’s Michael Carter will host a handicapping seminar from 2-3 p.m. First post at Santa Anita on Saturday is 1:15 p.m. (EDT) with the first Breeders’ Cup race going to the post at 3:05 p.m.

Northfield is hosting a live racing card Saturday with a 6 p.m. post time. Also on tap Saturday is “Spin and Win” from 6- 7 p.m. and Lady Luck’s Buffet in the clubhouse (6-9 p.m.) for $14.95.

Northfield will conclude a full weekend of handicapping competition on Sunday with the regular $900 handicapping contest on the action from Aqueduct.

Doors open at noon each and every day.