Twenty-four teams of horseplayers from across Ontario will duke it out for more than $16,000 in cash and prizes in the finals of the 2011 ROMP Handicapping League

on March 10.

Participation in the tournament is up by more than 40 per cent over last year’s inaugural tournament offered by Racetracks Of Ontario Marketing & Promotions (ROMP). Nearly 250 players from 80 teams competed in qualifying rounds each Thursday night for the past eight weeks.

Finalists represent the top two teams from each of the participating tracks: Clinton, Flamboro, Hanover, Georgian, Grand River, Hiawatha and Western Fair. A new wildcard component allows the next 10 overall teams to also advance to the final.

The following list represents the 24 teams advancing to the finals, and their total bankrolls from the qualifying rounds.

GRAND RIVER
Odd Couple Plus One (Grand River) - $481.80
Tee & Zee with Brooksie (Grand River) - $451.40

CLINTON
Butter Together (Clinton) - $282.90
Lucky Larry (Clinton) - $253.70

GEORGIAN
All About The Angles (Georgian) - $532.40
Williams Connection (Georgian) - $300.00

HIAWATHA
Foolishey (Hiawatha) - $314.10
South Siders (Hiawatha) - $276.40

HANOVER
V backs (Hanover) - $339.70
BBHK Stable (Hanover) - $323.90

WESTERN FAIR
WIN BY A NOSE (Western) - $409.30
THE NELLIGANS (Western) - $401.10

FLAMBORO
Money for Nothing (Flamboro) - $380.30
Coffeetrucks (Flamboro) - $372.20

Wildcard: Next 10 teams

Bet The Farm (Grand River) - $369.00
Gar-Al (Flamboro) - $357.20
PAPA JOE (Western) - $352.00
Just Guessin (Grand River) - $336.20
The Nexus (Grand River) - $332.50
SAN DIEGOS (Western) - $327.10
Team Geisel (Hanover) - $318.50
Team Sproxton (Flamboro) - $304.80
RISING DOUGH (Western) - $301.20
Guess Who (Grand River) - $299.50

Among the new contest components in 2011 is a $500 bonus for the team with the highest cumulative bankroll over the course of the qualifiers. Grand River Raceway’s Odd Couple Plus One held the spot for several weeks running, but were nosed out in the final qualifier by All About The Angles from Georgian Downs.

All About The Angles also won the last $200 weekly prize for the top scoring team.

Each team pays a $10 entry fee and all fees are added to the $10,000 grand prize.

The prize distribution for the ROMP Handicapping Tournament Final on March 10 is as follows:

1st - $5,000 + 1 seat per team member at the Trot Canada National Handicapping Championship in Fall 2011 (date/location TBA) to compete for $25,000
2nd - $4,000 ($2,500 + 25% of added monies)
3rd – $1920 ($1,200 + 12% of added monies)
4th - $1280 ($800 + 8 % of added monies)
5th - $800 ($500 + 5% of added monies)

ROMP extends its appreciation to all players who participated in this league — the first of its kind in Ontario — and wishes all teams the best of luck in the finals.

Complete standings are available on the ROMP website: www.raceromp.com.

(ROMP)