Congratulations to the winners of the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club’s Pick 8 Online Handicapping Contest presented in cooperation with the Ontario Sires Stakes and featuring $500 in prize money.
Wade Hamilton of New York, N.Y. won the online contest after finishing with a bankroll of $166.50 to top the charts from nearly 300 entrants.
Players were tasked with selecting the winners in each of eight OSS Grassroots Championships and they would receive a mythical $2 Win and $2 Place wager on their selections.
Wade is a former horseplayer turned lifelong fan and blogger who keeps up with the races by watching online replays. He doesn't have a favourite driver or track ("I like them all.") but he does have a favourite horse.
"Sneaky Hanover...long retired, used to hit the quarter extremely far off the pace at times but rarely finished last."
Second place went to Randy Riff of Palmerston, Ont., with a bankroll of $151.40 and Brian Herley of Colborne, Ont. took the show position with $143.10.
The winner of the Handicapping contest will receive $300; $150 will go to the runner up and the third place finisher will receive a cheque for $50. All three winners will also receive a prize package filled with I Love Canadian Harness Racing swag and Ontario Sires Stakes swag.
The next contest will be on the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final card, scheduled for Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday, October 10. The online contest will open on Thursday, October 8. The format and prizing are the same as the Grassroots Championships contest.