At about midnight tomorrow night, one very astute or very lucky handicapper is going to walk away from the Meadowlands and the inaugural World Harness Handicapping Championship $40,000 richer!

Saturday night, over 80 horseplayers from across North America, including eight Canadians will battle it out in the 2013 WHHC. The Meadowlands will be providing live updates on their live video feed and via Twitter.

The event has been over a year in the works and features a $100,000 prize pool. Prize payouts are to the Top 10, with first place secured at $40,000.

We’ve been featuring profiles on the Canadian players, but here’s just a reminder who makes up Team Canada:

• Garnet Barnsdale, from Scarborough, Ontario – Garnet was runner up in SC’s Breeders Crown Fantasy Draft and draws in thanks to winner Rocky Dibello who had to scratch due to a previous engagement.
• Blaine McKenna, from Alberton, PEI – Blaine was runner up in the Red Shores qualifying event and drew in after the winner scratched due to a previously scheduled trip to Cuba.
• Bill Porter, from Elmira, Ontario - the reigning Trot Canada National Handicapping Champion of 2011.
• Bill Pritchard, from Oakville, Ontario – the third member of The Three Stooges - the ROMP Handicapping League winning team of 2012.
• Roy Sproxton, from Brampton, Ontario – winner of the TCNHC in 2009 and a member of the Three Stooges, the ROMP Handicapping League winning team of 2012.
• Don Sproxton, from Mississauga, Ontario - a member of the Three Stooges, the ROMP Handicapping League winning team of 2012 (and yes, Roy and Don are related – Don is Roy’s father).
• Jim Valleau, from Pickering, Ontario – winner of the WEG/COSA HPI contest.
• Robert Waschuk, from Edmonton, Alberta – winner of Northlands WHHC qualifier.

The WHHC contest format requires players to bet 10 races: their choice of seven Meadowlands races, plus three designated mandatory races from partner tracks. Players have a $400 betting card and are required to make a $40 minimum bet per race, with a $100 maximum. Wagers are restricted to win and place and players can only bet one horse per race. Players keep all pari-mutuel winnings.

Good luck to all of our Canadian players in the WHHC!