For the next five Saturdays, harness racing fans will have their time to shine with a chance to compete for cash and prizes in the exciting new Big 5 Harness Handicapping Challenge.

Be crowned the challenge champion and take home bragging rights and the ultimate prize of $2,000 cash.

Co-sponsored by TrackMaster, TVG and the USTA, the format of the challenge is simple, with a new 'Big 5' theme this year. Free to enter and play, there will be five qualifying rounds with a brand new contest each week and a new mythical bankroll of $500 to make exactly five win wagers at $100 each.

Horses can be selected from any race at any of the five featured tracks -- Balmoral Park, Hoosier Park, Pocono Downs, Yonkers Raceway and the Red Mile. There's something for every handicapper with one, seven-eighths, five-eighths and half-mile tracks to choose from.

The finals will be comprised of 25 players, the top five bankrolls from each weekly contest.

In addition to the $2,000 grand prize, the runner up will win $1,000, third place earns $500 and the fourth- and fifth-place finishers will be rewarded with one year of unlimited TrackMaster HarnessPro, the most unique and powerful harness handicapping tool available on the market today.

TrackMaster will be providing free handicapping products and a different report each week to support the contest. It runs every Saturday from August 10 through September 7 and concludes with the finals on Saturday, September 14.

For complete information and to register for the $5,000 'Big 5' Harness Handicapping Challenge, log on to www.trackmaster.com/contest.

(USTA)