Bettor Racing OTB

The top four finishers from the Bettor Racing OTB's Midwest Classic were (L-R): Tim Stupka (2nd place), Kent Meyer (4th), Dom Ippolito (3rd), and contest winner H. Mitchell Schuman.

The $22,250 Midwest Classic is akin to an annual all-star game for tournament players, who travel to this unlikely locale for a chance to qualify for the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship. This year's field of 89 entries was comprized of 50 players from 22 different states. Thirty-one of the 50 players were past major tournament winners, and 18 of the 50 were past NHC finalists including former Handicappers of the Year Steven Walker (2000) and Judy Wagner (2001).

Schuman, 44, was playing in only his second tournament ever. He compiled a contest-winning bankroll of $112.60 based on $2 to win-and-place bets on 12 races from five simulcast tracks. Schuman earned first-prize of $8,900 and qualified for NHC V which will be held on Jan. 23-24, 2004 at Bally's - Las Vegas.

Second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers Tim Stupka of Sioux Falls ($108.60), Dom Ippolito of Seal Beach, Calif. ($108.60), and Kent Meyer of Sioux City, Iowa ($107.10), who earned $4,450, $2,781, and $1669, respectively, also qualified for NHC V. All three players are past NHC qualifiers.

The contest cost $250 per entry with two entries allowed per person. One-hundred percent of all entry money was returned to the top 10 finishers in the form of prize money.

The top 10 finishers were as follows:

PLACE	NAME	HOME	PT. TOTAL	PRIZE $
1	H. Mitchell Schuman	New York, N.Y.	$112.60	$8,900
2	Tim Stupka	Sioux Falls, S.D.	$108.60	$4,450
3	Dominic Ippolito	Seal Beach, Calif.	$108.60	$2,781.25
4	Kent Meyer	Sioux City, Iowa	$107.10	$1,668.75
5	Tim Stupka #2	Sioux Falls, S.D.	$101.20	$1112.50
6	Steve Hendricks	Carlsbad, Calif.	$99.20	$667.50
7	Steve Hendricks #2	Carlsbad, Calif.	$88.80	$667.50
8	Paul Navratil	Savage, Minn.	$88.60	$667.50
9	Patrick Gianforte	Cary, Ill.	$80.80	$667.50
10	Gerald Hanson	Albuquerque, N.M.	$79.90	$667.50