Please consider sponsoring these harness racing handicappers or sharing this with an organization, racetrack, individual or stable that may be interested.
This is great exposure for the price (as low as $100) and these contestants are very active on Social Media for the 7 months of the Grand Circuit races. All $$ go to Standardbred rescues….a good deal all around.
New Sponsors Announced; Last Call for Sponsors in 2015 Handicapping Contest
HANA Harness welcomes the Bellino Stables as a Gold Sponsor and The Raceway at Western Fair District as a Silver sponsor in the 2015 HANA Harness Grand Circuit Handicapping Contest presented by the Hambletonian Society, Bellino Stables, DRF Harness, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs.
With less than ten days prior to the commencement of the contest on April 24, it is Last Call for becoming a sponsor. While naming rights for the handicapping contest have been sold out, affordable sponsorship opportunities remain, starting with our Bronze Level ($100), Silver Level ($250) and topping out at $500 for the Gold Level. If you are a racetrack, horsemen association, racing stable, or a vendor who does business in the harness racing industry, sponsorship is a perfect way to get your name out within the industry as supporters of Standardbred rescue.
The deadline for becoming a sponsor is Sunday, April 19. To become a sponsor or for further information, please contact allan@hanaweb.org.
For further information on the 2015 HANA Harness Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge, visit the contest website at http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com .
Field and Rescues Announced for 2015 HANA Harness Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge
(March 13, 2015) – The field has been set, the races picked, and the rescues selected for the 2015 HANA Harness Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge presented by the Hambletonian Society, DRF Harness, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs, all sponsors who have renewed their support for Standardbred rescue with their sponsorship (additional sponsors are anticipated).
As for handicappers, one old friend and three new faces join the returning roster of handicappers. Richard Scott returns to the contest after a one year hiatus. Scott was the winner of the 2013 handicapping contest and will try to reclaim his title. Scott is a former trainer who worked for the Beissinger, Silverman, and David Elliot stables in his career. Making their debut to the contest this year are Michael Carter, the current track announcer at Buffalo Raceway; Mark Dezii, a racing fan and musician who hails from Philadelphia, PA; Bryan Owen, former owner of horses such as Corleone Kosmo (BC Open Trot Winner 2008) and Luckycharm Hanover and an amateur handicapper.
The complete roster, last year's placing, and selected rescues for the 2015 Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge is:
Garnet Barnsdale – Harness Racing Writer, WEG Handicapper for DRF Harness; (1st); TROTR; Therapeutic Riding and Off-Track Rehabilitation)
Michael Carter – Track Announcer at Buffalo Raceway; (Did Not Compete); Central Virginia Horse Rescue
Ray Cotolo – Internet Harness Racing Analyst and Writer; (15th); Sunshine Horse Rescue.
Mark Dezii – Race Fan and Musician; (DNC); Horse Lovers United
Ray Garnett -Handicapper; (14th); Rockin T Equine Rescue
Derick Giwner – Editor, DRF Harness; (8th); New Vocations
Sally Hinckley – On-air Handicapping Personality; (12th); Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals
Brian McEvoy – Harnesslink, (3rd); Helping Hearts Equine Rescue
Mark McKelvie – Communications Coordinator for WEG; (2nd); Horse Rescue United
Rusty Nash – Trackmaster Handicapper; (9th); Rainhill Sanctuary.
Dennis O'Hara – Handicapper, Former Asst Race Secretary; (11th); Standardbred Retirement Foundation
Bryan Owen – Former Owner, Handicapper ;(DNC); Standardbred Retirement Foundation
Earl Paulson – Handicapper, Yahoo Harness Racing Forum Director; (5th); Racer Placers
Richard Scott – Handicapper/Former Trainer, (DNC; 1st in 2013); Rainhill Sanctuary.
Anne Stepien – Handicapper, Former Trainer; (13th); Heading for Home
Brandon Valvo – Handicapper, Writer for Harness Racing America; (6th); Horse Lovers United
Josi Verlingieri – Handicapper; (7th); Heart of Phoenix
Gordon Waterstone – Associate Editor, Horseman and Fair World; (10th); Changing Fates Equine Rescue
A new scoring system has been implemented for this year's contest with handicappers focusing on the horse who will win the race, bringing a mix of quantity and value to the handicappers' plans this year. Details on scoring are found on the rules page. The competition begins on April 24 with the inaugural Meadows Futurity Trot and concludes on November 29 with the Progress Stake at Dover Downs. Handicappers and fans may follow the contest by visiting the contest website at http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.
HANA Harness is the Harness Racing division of Horseplayers Association of North America (HANA), a group which since 2008 has been the liaison for more than 3,000 horseplayers and the racing industry. Since HANA Harness began sponsoring handicapping contests, over $10,000 has been donated to Standardbred rescues. All horseplayers, regardless of breed are invited to join HANA for free. For further information regarding HANA, please visit the HANA website at http://horseplayersassociation.org/.
For further information on joining the current sponsors by becoming a sponsor at the Gold, Silver, or Bronze level, click here.