"You know, betting on horses that you're not used to can be a challenge, 'cause you don't know the tracks, you don't know some of the drivers, but a little luck goes a long way."
Jay Noye is set for his trip to The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey at the end of the month where he will compete in the World Harness Handicapping Championship (WHHC). The winner of the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club qualifier in March went eight-for-10 in the preliminary online contest to earn his place among top handicappers that will be vying for the WHHC's $20,000 first-place prize.
Noye was featured in a CBC News article on Wednesday and discussed some of his handicapping strategy, noting that familiarity with the horses' form and hot drivers and trainers contributed to his success in the qualifying round, but could be a challenge in the Meadowlands championship.
"[In the program] each race will tell you whether they finished first, second, third, fourth and so on. And a lot of times you just got to go by whether they're racing well or, if they're not finishing in the money, generally they're not in the right class," said Noye, who trains a small stable in P.E.I. and is a full-time Graphic Artist/Web Designer.
"If you bet on some of the drivers, that's kind of my thing. I like to bet on drivers and the hot trainers and I kind of follow them, and hopefully you do well."
The WHHC is a one-day tournament on April 30, which requires horseplayers to bet 10 races (their choice of seven Meadowlands races, plus three designated mandatory races from partner tracks.) Players keep all pari-mutuel winnings and prize payouts are awarded to the Top 10, with an estimated prize pool of $50,000.
(With files from CBC News)