Harness: $100,000 Grand Circuit Challenge kicks off Saturday

The post positions have been drawn and the fields are set for the first weekend of the 2016 Grand Circuit Challenge with three races this Saturday (Aug. 6) on Hambletonian day, presented by Mullinax Ford, at the Meadowlands.

The 2016 Grand Circuit Challenge offers a $100,000 grand prize to any contestant who can successfully pick the winner in each of the contest’s 18 races. If no one correctly picks every winner, the contestant with the most wins will earn $5,000, the runner-up wins a VIP experience and the third-place finisher gets a special harness racing gift pack.

There will also be weekly prizes awarded throughout the contest including autographed drivers’ colors from Brian Sears and Billy Haughton and VIP experiences such as winner’s circle presentations, starting gate car rides and backstretch tours. Other prizes include Hambletonian and track logo merchandise, dinner in the clubhouse, gift baskets and gift certificates as well as free track programs.

To help you make your selections, some of harness racing’s top handicappers will provide their expert opinions on all of the races.

Each week, the Daily Racing Form’s Derick Giwner will share his opinions on the DRF website at www.drf.com/events/harness-grand-circuit-challenge. Click on the link to see who he likes in this weekend’s three contest races. There will also be selections from other top harness handicappers from the Horseplayers Association of North America on www.HarnessRacingFanZone.com.

Also, for each of the 18 races, contestants will be provided with past performances courtesy of TrackMaster at no charge. Get the free past performances by clicking here.

Following is the schedule for the $100,000 Grand Circuit Challenge:

Aug. 6 - Hambletonian at the Meadowlands
Aug. 6 - Hambletonian Oaks at the Meadowlands
Aug. 6 - U.S. Pacing Championship at the Meadowlands
Aug. 12 - Dan Patch at Hoosier Park
Aug. 20 - Battle of the Brandywine at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono
Aug. 26 - Muscle Hill at Vernon Downs
Sept. 3 - Yonkers Trot at Yonkers Raceway
Sept. 3 - Messenger at Yonkers Raceway
Sept. 10 - Jim Ewart Memorial at Scioto Downs
Sept. 17 - Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk Racetrack
Sept. 21 - Jugette at the Delaware County Fairgrounds
Sept. 22 - Little Brown Jug at the Delaware County Fairgrounds
Sept. 30 - Dayton Pacing Derby at Dayton Raceway
Oct. 9 – Tattersalls at Red Mile
Oct. 9 - Kentucky Futurity at Red Mile
Oct. 15 - International Trot at Yonkers Raceway
Oct. 28 - Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands
Oct. 29 - Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands

-press release (USTA)