On Thursday, January 12, Racetracks Of Ontario Marketing & Promotions (ROMP) kicks off its third annual ROMP Handicapping League at seven Ontario tracks

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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 tournament runs Thursday nights for eight weeks beginning January 12 and is offered at the following tracks: Clinton, Flamboro, Hanover, Georgian, Grand River, Hiawatha and The Raceway at Western Fair District.

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 entry amount per team, per week, which entitles the team to three free programs from the Standardbred menu (Woodbine, Meadowlands and Rideau).

The team with the top weekly bankroll wins $200. A $500 bonus stands for the team with the highest cumulative bankroll over the course of the eight-week qualifiers.

All entry fees are added to the $10,000 grand prize. Each team’s weekly cumulative hypothetical bankrolls will determine which two teams from each track will advance to the finals on March 9. A wildcard component allows the next ten overall teams to also advance to the final.

Last year’s ROMP Handicapping Tournament Final was contested for $16,000. The grand prize was captured by the San Diegos from The Raceway at Western Fair District.

The list of mandatory races for the first leg on January 12 are available on the ROMP website.

Participants are further advised that at least two members of each team must be present on league nights. The registration table at each track opens at 6:00 p.m. and all teams must be registered before post time of the first mandatory race.

(ROMP)