The opportunity to experience real-time victory and defeat has eluded North America’s harness racing fans for the past several weeks.

But tonight (May 8) it’s game-on as Barncat Trivia launches the first of four live virtual events where players compete against fellow horse racing enthusiasts.

Barncat Trivia is a scrappy game connecting harness racing fans with fun, all-original questions. Events are held at 7:00 p.m. EST on May 8, 15, 22 and 29.

This interactive, online game is free to play and designed to challenge players’ harness racing knowledge. Each live virtual event is 60 minutes and features 60 multiple-choice questions in three rounds.

Players can log into the sleek game portal each week to compete against participants from across the globe. Dynamic scoring awards the highest points to players who answer correctly in the shortest amount of time. Scores are tallied and stats are revealed in real time and they carry over seamlessly to the next week’s game.

An online show corresponds with each trivia event featuring a game host and expert commentators.

This week’s guest commentator is award-winning broadcaster Heather Vitale. The host of two weekly shows about harness racing -- Post Time (which she has also produced since 1998) and PA Harness Weekly -- Vitale will join the live Barncat Trivia show following the first round of questions. Viewers can pose questions for Vitale in the livestream chat.

Links for tonight’s game and live show can be accessed at barncattrivia.com. The website also provides an email notification service to remind players of upcoming game times.

The top overall scorer of the four-week tournament wins a $100 gift card for the vendor of their choice. Prizes of $25.99 in game play will be awarded for the mobile apps Catch Driver and Off And Pacing. These prizes will be awarded on social media and during game nights.

The tournament is made possible with the generous support of sponsors, including:

• Catch Driver
• Clinton Raceway
• Central Ontario Standardbred Association
• Grand River Raceway
• Hambletonian Society
• Hanover Raceway
• MadBarn
• Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment
• Off And Pacing
• Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association
• Tara Hills Stud
• TheStable.ca
• TROT Magazine
• Woodbine Mohawk Park

(True Nature Communications)