The 2015 World Harness Handicapping Championship was conducted on Saturday night at The Meadowlands, with four Canadian representatives vying for the grand prize.
The WHHC Final required players to bet 10 races: their choice of seven Meadowlands races, plus three designated mandatory races, one each from Pompano, Meadowlands and Mohawk. Wagers were Win, Place, Show or any combination of WPS with a $30 minimum wager, $100 maximum wager per race.
Taking home the $14,400 first place prize was William Meisel of Staten Island, N.Y. Meisel, a court officer by day, is a frequent Meadowlands contest player. Saturday he cashed on eight out of 10 contest wagers and was in second place going into the 13th and final contest race. He catapulted to the win with a $100 last race win wager on the winner, Rockaholic, sending his bankroll to $1,092 to capture the prize.
Scott Alberg, the 2006 WHHC Champion from Washington Township, N.J., finished in 2nd place with a bankroll of $943 while Brian Volakos, a USTA qualifier from Forest Park, Ill., finished in 3rd place with $780.
The four Canadian players who took part didn’t hit the top 10. Bob Coole, of Guelph, Ontario, was the top Canadian player, finishing in 14th spot. Coole, who “thoroughly enjoyed the weekend,” won his spot in the WHHC by winning the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club’s FAN-tastic Friday online handicapping challenge in late March.
Blaine McKenna from PEI qualified at Red Shores Charlottetown and this marked his second WHHC after subbing in for Conrad Perry in the 2013 WHHC. McKenna finished mid pack, in 31st spot. “It was great but I had no luck,” said McKenna, noting that he prefers to play exotics.
Jeremy Boakes of Lasalle, Ontario, finished in 71st spot. “I didn’t fare well, but it was a great experience,” said Boakes who was the representative for Trot Magazine’s 2014 Fantasy Stable online handicapping challenge.
Kevin Petipas, of Hamilton, Ontario, was in 11th spot at one point but unfortunately was disqualified from the event, as he accidentally wagered on two horses in one of the races. “I really enjoyed myself all weekend," he stated. “Even though I didn’t make any money in the WHHC, I was able to cash some tickets (outside of the contest) and make almost $1,000.”
Petipas, a racing fan/horseplayer for about 15 years, won his spot through a HPI qualifier, sponsored by the Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA).
The list of top 10 finishers is below:
Finish -- Prize $ -- Bankroll -- Name -- City, State
1 -- $14,400.00 -- $1,092.00 -- William Meisel -- Staten Island, NY
2 -- $7,200.00 -- $943.00 -- Scott Alberg -- Twp Washington, NJ
3 -- $5,400.00 -- $780.00 -- Brian Volakos -- Forest Park, IL
4 -- $3,600.00 -- $750.00 -- Rich Hansen -- Buffalo, NY
5 -- $1,800.00 -- $594.50 -- Adam Friedland -- Brooklyn, NY
6 -- $720.00 -- $499.00 -- Guy Gerber -- New City, NY
7 -- $720.00 -- $471.50 -- Arthur Suckow -- East Brunswick, NJ
8 -- $720.00 -- $470.00 -- Phil Melancon -- Clay, NY
9 -- $720.00 -- $408.00 -- Rick Bartoski -- Troy, MI
10 -- $720.00 -- $342.00 -- John Murphy -- East Lyme, CT
(with files from The Meadowlands)