(April 9, 2017) – In a quiet week of the Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge, Matt Rose and Rusty Nash each once won a leg of the harness racing challenge at Yonkers Raceway this week (4/7 and 8), leaving the top of the standings virtually unchanged. Rose remains in front with 228.63 points, 18.63 points ahead of Nash's 210 points. The race for the show spot remains tight with Ray Garnett ahead of Bryan Owen by a mere 1.13 points.
In the overall net-profit competition, Rose's $60.20 profit is a mere $1.90 ahead of Nash's $58.30. Ray Garnett sits in the show spot with a net profit of $23.60, $0.60 ahead of Ray Cotolo's $23.00.
The standings through the first eight legs are;
Pos |
Handicapper |
Total Points Earned |
Legs Won |
1st |
Matt Rose |
228.63 |
3 |
2nd |
Rusty Nash |
210.00 |
3 |
3rd |
Ray Garnett |
121.13 |
1 |
4th |
Bryan Owen |
120.00 |
1 |
5th |
Russ Adams |
119.00 |
0 |
6th |
Steve Horoky |
111.63 |
0 |
7th |
Megan Maccario |
83.00 |
0 |
8th |
Ray Cotolo |
74.00 |
0 |
9th |
Gordon Waterstone |
69.13 |
0 |
10th |
Dennis O’Hara |
68.00 |
0 |
11th |
Sally Hinckley |
67.50 |
0 |
12th |
Anne Stepien |
64.00 |
0 |
13th |
Adam Friedland |
61.63 |
0 |
14th |
Jay Hochstetler |
47.13 |
0 |
15th |
Terry Wilson |
47.13 |
0 |
16th |
Michael Carter |
47.13 |
0 |
Next Up: The Challenge continues this week at Yonkers Raceway on Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15 for the final preliminary legs of the Matchmaker and Levy Memorial Series. The following week, the Challenge takes a detour to Fraser Downs for the Kenny Linton Memorial (4/21) and the Penny Bath Memorial (4/22), the only two non-restricted stakes races for three year old pacers in British Columbia as well as the Matchmaker and Levy Series finales at Yonkers.
The 2017 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge is sponsored by Adam Friedland, DRF Harness, Green Acquisition Corporation, The Hambletonian Society, Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, Ontario Harness Horse Association, Red Shores Charlottetown/Summerside, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Wellbourne Farms, and WEG Entertainment. The contest is administered by HANA Harness, the harness racing division of HANA, the Horseplayers Association of North America. Fans may follow the challenge by visiting the contest site at http;//hanaharnesscontest.
Allan Schott
HANA Harness Racing Coordinator