Slow and steady has gotten Mark McKelvie, the 2012 HANA Harness Handicapping Champion, back on top in HANA Harness’ 2013 Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge with a net profit of $7.50 for the four Grand Circuit Stakes this past week.

The handicappers have been frustrated by short fields and prices in a couple of these races and a costly break by Lady Broadway in the Hudson Filly Trot.

To give the handicappers more leeway, the rules of the contest have been modified slightly. Instead of a total of $30 for a race which has been divided in divisions, each handicapper will now receive $30 per division to wager with along with a requirement of wagering at least $30 in one division and at least $10 in each subsequent division. Also, the handicappers will now be able to play multi-race wagers as long as each leg is a Grand Circuit event.

Additional races have been added to the ‘special event’ category where the handicappers will have the option of wagering an additional $20 per race as well as making up to two additional wagers. The list of races which fall into this category are the Meadowlands, Pace, William R. Haughton Memorial, Stanley Dancer Trot, Hambletonian, Hambletonian Oaks, John Cashman Jr. Memorial (formerly the Nat Ray), Battle of the Brandywine, Canadian Pacing Derby, Little Brown Jug, Yonkers Trot, Kentucky Futurity, Governors Cup, and the Meadowlands FFA Trot/Pace Finals.

Key Hits: Mark McKelvie had a $30 Win ticket on Spider Blue Chip in the Reynolds 3yo C&G trot which paid $97.50. Anne Stepien grossed $61.50 collecting on both divisions of the Reynolds 3yo filly trot.

Contest Schedule This Week

Friday, July 12, 2013 – Hazel Park Raceway - $100,000 William Connors Memorial (3yo trotters); Meadowlands - $40,000 Miss Versatility (Open trotting mares).

Saturday, July 13, 2013 – Balmoral Park - $60,000 Hanover Stakes (3yo filly pacers), $50,000 Hanover Stakes (3yo filly trotters), $60,000 Hanover Stakes (3yo colt and gelding pace); Meadowlands - $245,500 Delvin Miller Memorial (3yo filly trotters), $800,000 Meadowlands Pace (3yo open pacers), $190,850 Mistletoe Shalee (3yo filly pacers), $303,500 Stanley Dancer Trot (3yo open trotters), $500,000 William R. Haughton Memorial (FFA pacers).

(HANA)