Garnet Barnsdale has already defeated great odds to gain a spot in this month’s World Harness Handicapping Championship at the Meadowlands.
Barnsdale was the runner-up in the inaugural Breeders Crown Fantasy Draft, presented by Standardbred Canada. The October event was won by Rocky Dibello of Richmond Hill who coincidentally was the inaugural winner of SC’s Trot Canada National Handicapping Championship in 2007.
However due to prior obligations Dibello was forced to give up his shot at the WHHC. The runner-up was invited to go in his place and Barnsdale jumped at the chance.
The 2013 World Harness Handicapping Championship will bring together horseplayers from across North America to compete for $100,000 in prize money on Saturday, April 13, 2013. The WHHC is a partnership between the Meadowlands and the United States Trotting Association formed to create the industry’s ultimate tournament experience. Standardbred Canada supports the project by facilitating the participation of Canadian racing and wagering outlets. Eight players from Canada will take part in this year’s event.
Barnsdale, a Toronto resident, has been a lifelong fan of racing. He frequented Greenwood Raceway as a youngster with his father. He still remembers many of the horses that he bet on – Banker Fretz, Smoke Fog, and Jambo Dancer to name a few. Now he likes to spend his time at Mohawk cheering on his favourite drivers, Scott Zeron and Doug McNair. Currently an Operations Manager at Waste Management of Canada Corp, Garnet also has a few miniature horses which he and his family drive, as well as show.
Garnet is eager to visit the Meadowlands next month as it has been many years since his last visit. He offers some advice to those looking to better themselves at handicapping, “a must read for any handicapper is Ainslie’s Complete Guide to Harness Racing.”
“Handicapping is not only about picking winners, it’s about betting properly. You can be a good handicapper and a bad gambler and you’re never going to win,” he was quoted in a recent interview for a story in TROT’s April Horseplayer issue.
Garnet is a regular contributor to Down The Stretch, co-host of North American Harness Update; writer of Driveon blog at HorseRacingNation.com and hosts a harness racing radio show, North American Update on Blogtalkradio.com
Racing has become a family affair for Garnet, his wife Kim, who often takes photos of the subjects of the stories he writes, and their 12 year old son Nicholas. Garnet actually proposed to Kim in front of the winner’s circle when they were on a date at Mohawk Racetrack.
When asked what Garnet would spend his prize money on, he jokes, “parlay it...just kidding. I’d put a down payment on a house and claim a race horse.”
Limited to just 100 spots, the WHHC is a one-day tournament, with a welcome reception and warm-up event the evening prior. Players must earn a seat in the WHHC through a qualifying event at a partner wagering outlet.
The player with the highest bankroll based on wagering from 10 races will be the winner. Prize money will be awarded to the top 10 finishers, and all players will keep their winnings.
To take a look at the format of the event and qualifying locations, click here.
Fast Facts on Garnet:
Nickname: “The King” and “GG” (named after the trotter GG Garney)
Lucky Numbers: 469
Favourite horse of all time: Cam Fella
Biggest ticket ever cashed: $7,100 on a 20-cent super