Ken Hickey of Dumont, New Jersey took first place in Saturday’s free World Harness Handicapping Championship (WHHC) qualifier at The Meadowlands. Hickey won a $1,000 seat into the World Harness Handicapping Championship on September 10.
The contest required players to make a mythical $2 "across the board" wager on one horse in Races 1-10 at the Meadowlands. Hickey finished with $119.50 -- $9 ahead of the second-place finisher. He hit the board on all but one of his 10 wagers. His biggest score came in Race 4 when Tim Tetrick piloted Great Unknown to an upset win giving Hickey a $38.40 "across the board" score.
Qualifier information can be found at PlayMeadowlands.com.
The World Harness Handicapping Championship is a one-day tournament. Players that did not earn a seat through a qualifying event can directly buy-in for $1,000. The $1,000 entry fee includes a $300 bankroll, with the remaining $700 going to the prize pool. The WHHC contest format requires players to bet 10 races: their choice of seven Meadowlands races, plus three designated mandatory races. Players keep all pari-mutuel winnings. Prize payouts are to the Top 10.
Players that have qualified for the WHHC include:
- John Settembrino – Meadowlands November 2021 Free Qualifier
- William Alemijevic – Meadowlands $400 January 2022 Qualifier
- Jaime Ortiz – Meadowlands $400 January 2022 Qualifier
- Karen Fossli – Meadowlands $400 January 2022 Qualifier
- Joe Barre – Meadowlands $400 January 2022 Qualifier
- Sean Loebs – Meadowlands $200 February 2022 Qualifier
- Stefan Ferrara – Meadowlands $200 February 2022 Qualifier
- John Vail – Meadowlands $200 March 2022 Qualifier
- John Murphy – Meadowlands $200 March 2022 Qualifier
- Leo Talback – 2022 Winter Survival Challenge
- Michael Kepler – 2022 Winter Survival Challenge
- Charles Polgar – 2022 Winter Survival Challenge
- Jeff Marrotte – Tioga Downs
- Frank Palmasani – Vernon Downs
- Todd Slembarski – Meadowlands $400 April 2022 Qualifier
- Greg Lipinski – Meadowlands $400 April 2022 Qualifier
- Patrick O’Malley – Meadowlands $400 April 2022 Qualifier
- Russ Slader – Meadowlands $400 April 2022 Qualifier
(With files from The Meadowlands)