Since March of this year, thousands of horseplayers from across the country have tested their luck and competed in track and online handicapping contests to earn a coveted spot in this year’s Trot Canada National Handicapping
Championship. The championship takes place this Saturday night at Georgian Downs in Innisfil, Ont., and a field of 32 of Canada’s luckiest players will compete for the $25,000 grand prize.
This is the fourth consecutive year for this event, an annual nationwide initiative and only national harness handicapping championship,
The field of 32 finalists includes players from coast to coast and all walks of life; from the chef from Listowel, Ont. to the civil servant in PEI, the courier driver in Charlottetown, PEI and the retired farmer from Corunna, Ont.
They’ll be bringing their good luck charms: a silver coin, lucky hat, a three-leaf clover, Buddha, or their wife, in the hopes that their luck at the windows will be good.
Standardbred Canada is hosting the players at Horseshoe Valley Resort in Barrie where they will take part in a reception and brunch on Saturday afternoon before heading over to the track for the main event.
The Trot Canada Handicapping Championship is a nationwide initiative aimed at fans and horseplayers. Over a period of eight months, starting in March and ending last weekend, racetracks and industry organizations across Canada hosted qualifying events that enticed thousands of entrants. The championship is limited to players who earned their way in through a qualifying event at a racetrack, teletheatre and via online contests. There are no 'buy ins' into the event.
Roy Sproxton, of Brampton, Ont., the defending champion who won $25,000 in last year’s event held at Rideau Carleton in Ottawa, and Rocky Dibello, the champion of the inaugural edition of the TCNHC that was hosted at Woodbine Racetrack, are both taking part in this event for the third time.
The championship will feature live money wagers on standardbred races from Western Fair Raceway, Georgian Downs and Woodbine Racetrack. The person with the highest bankroll at the end of the evening will take home the $25,000 prize. Cheques will also be issued for people finishing second through fifth