Popular Harness Racing Contest Returns

Batavia, NY --- Western Regional Off-Track Betting and the Meadowlands Racetrack are pleased to partner once again in the National Harness Handicapping Contest it was announced today by Hank Nevins, OTB publicity director. Nevins said, “The contest has been extremely well received by our customers and we look forward to starting it again.”

This year there will be 21 qualifying rounds held throughout the Western region. The top three finishers from each OTB location make the finals to be held on April 27 at Batavia Downs Gaming. 
View all dates and locations. The winner of the finals then goes to the Meadowlands on June 21 to compete for a top prize of $50,000.

There is no charge to play and patrons can play in as many contests as they choose but can only qualify once for the Batavia finals. In the event one of the top three finishers has previously qualified at another OTB branch, the 4th place finisher would make the finals.

Sign up for all branch contests begins at 5:45 p.m. Patrons are required to handicap races 1-5 on the Meadowlands program and races 8-12 on Buffalo Raceway program on Wednesday nights and races 1-5 on the Meadowlands and races 3-7 on Buffalo Raceway on Friday nights. Patrons can sign up to play right up until the start of the first contest race. (7:00 p.m.)

Racing fans are required to select one horse in each contest race along with a back-up selection; the back-up selection will only be used if their first selection is a late scratch. The back-up selection will not be used if a patron selects a horse that was an early scratch.

Points will be awarded on how selections do. Patrons will receive 5 points if their selection wins, 3 points if their selection finishes second and 1 point if their selection finishes third. Patron are also required to select one Best Bet in which they will receive double points for that particular race.
 
The person with the highest point total receives a $25 betting voucher and will receive an additional $25 voucher if he or she is present when the final race results are posted. In the event of a tie, the patron whose total mutuel prices of winners selected is higher will be declared the winner.
 
The winner of the Batavia Downs Finals will receive a free entry in National Harness Handicapping finals in New Jersey, 2 nights hotel accommodations at the Holiday Inn located near the Meadowlands Racetrack and $100 spending money.