Racetracks Of Ontario Marketing & Promotions (ROMP) kicks off its second annual ROMP Handicapping League at seven Ontario tracks on Thursday

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The tournament offers a minimum of $12,000 in prize money, plus three coveted spots in the $25,000 TROT Canada National Handicapping Championship in the fall. The ROMP tournament runs Thursday nights for eight weeks beginning January 13 and is offered at the following tracks: Clinton, Flamboro, Hanover, Georgian, Grand River, Hiawatha and Western Fair.

League teams consisting of two to three members will compete against teams at their home track, and the other six facilities. There is a $10 cost per team, per week, which entitles the team to free programs from the three-track harness racing menu. The team with the top weekly bankroll wins $200.

All entry fees are added to the $10,000 grand prize offering. Each team’s weekly cumulative (hypothetical) bankrolls will determine which two teams from each track will advance to the finals on March 10.

New this year is a wildcard component, which allows the next ten overall teams to also advance to the final.

Also new in 2011 is a $500 bonus for the team with the highest cumulative bankroll over the course of the eight-week qualifiers.

Last year’s ROMP Handicapping Tournament Final was contested for $14,500. The grand prize was captured by the (self-named) Flamboro Rejects.

Full league details, and the list of mandatory races for January 13 are available on the ROMP website.

(ROMP)