Stanley Koper, 67, of Chicago Ridge, IL, captured the $16,600 grand prize in the 2016 World Harness Handicapping Championship on Saturday, April 30 at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment.

Koper finished the tournament with a $1,100 bankroll to top the field of 83 players from across North America who competed for $41,500 in prize money. Koper won his spot in the betamerica.com & USTA qualifier hosted in March.

"Everyone at BetAmerica is excited to see Stanley win the World Harness Handicapping Championship," said BetAmerica Tournament Director Merv Huber-Calvo. "BetAmerica offers harness racing handicapping contests every single day; Stanley is obviously a sage handicapper, and he keeps his contest skills sharp by playing contests regularly on BetAmerica."

The WHHC contest format required contestants to bet 10 races: seven Meadowlands races of their choice, plus one mandatory race each from Vernon Downs, Buffalo and Meadowlands racetracks. Bets had to meet a $30 minimum, $100 maximum per race. Contestants could only bet one horse per race and wagers could either be win, place, show or a combination of the three.

Koper, a retired operating engineer, cashed on six of his ten bets and had an early $420 score with $100 to win on Roll N Catch in Race 2 at the Meadowlands. His largest score of the night was $450 on $100 win bet on Intheblinkofaneye in Meadowlands’ sixth race. This win gave him a total bankroll of $1,215 with six contest races remaining. Koper cashed one more $100 win bet on Alexie Mattosie in the ninth at the Meadowlands. The next closest competitor, Todd Cross, finished well behind with a $688 total bankroll.

In addition to the Meadowlands, the following partner outlets sent players to compete in the 2016 WHHC: USTA via betamerica.com, betamerica.com, Buffalo Raceway, Vernon Downs, Tioga Downs, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Hawthorne, and Standardbred Canada.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)