ELORA, ON — Trainer Bruce Goit and driver J. R. Plante dominated the final leg of the Slots Cup Series, staged July 22 at Grand River Raceway.

Dr Dew left from post two in the first division, took control of the field at the half and managed his first win of the season in 1:55.2. The sophomore pacer was out of action for the past two months but qualified well at Flamboro last week and was the top betting choice in the six-horse field. The lion’s share of the $12,000 purse elevated him to eighth in the standings, guaranteeing him a spot in the $100,000 final at Hiawatha Horse Park on September 3.

Division winner Dr Dew with J R Plante (Iron Horse Photo)

The Royal Mattjesty gelding is owned by JL Benson Stables Inc. and Aaron Waxman.

Stonebridge Memoir and Texas Seelster rounded out the top three. Warners Speedy Art and Encore Seelster finished fourth and fifth respectively and will join Dr Dew in the final.

Cajon Thunder extended his impressive winning streak to seven, including all six legs of the Slots Cup Series. The Cammibest son wired the field in 1:53.4 and boasts $36,000 in series earnings for Benson, Waxman and KDM Stables Corp. He’s a career winner of 11 races and $126,279. Fellow finalists Web Cam, Larjon Barty, Ciona Bromach and Lawmen Reign rounded out the top five.

Cajon Thunder, undefeated in all six legs of the Slots Cup Series (Iron Horse Photo)

The top nine money-earners and two also-eligibles from the qualifying legs advance to the $100,000 final at Hiawatha Horse Park on September 3, 2011. They are as follows:
FINALIST  -  SLOTS CUP EARNINGS
CAJON THUNDER – $36,000
LARJON BARTY – $17,840
EVERY DAY – $14,880
LAWMEN REIGN – $11,640
WEB CAM – $9,960
ENCORE SEELSTER – $9,600
WARNER SPEEDY ART – $9,480
DR DEW – $8,040
CIONA BROMACH – $6,960
STONEBRIDGE MEMOIR – $5,400 (AE1)
BAKARDI ARTI – $4,200 (AE2)

This is the fourth season of the Slots Cup Series, which is contested by Ontario-sired pacers ages four and under. The endeavor is a joint effort between ROMP (Racetracks Of Ontario Marketing & Promotions), horsepeople and the OLG. Previous legs were contested at Western Fair Raceway, Hanover Raceway, Clinton Raceway, Flamboro Downs and Georgian Downs.

Finalists represented the top teams from each of the participating tracks: Clinton, Flamboro, Hanover, Georgian, Grand River, Hiawatha and Western Fair. Nearly 250 players from 80 teams competed in qualifying rounds each Thursday night for the past eight weeks.

The San Diegos team from Western Fair took the lion’s share of the grand prize with a bankroll of $181.70 based on hypothetical $2 win and place wagers over 10 races from Woodbine, Meadowlands and Rideau.

Their standing was mediocre going into their final selection of the competition. But team members Steve Bossence, Dominic DiCicco and Greg Darnell shot straight to the top when 60-1 shot Dancers Cam took the final dash at Woodbine.

Gar-Al (Flamboro), Foolishey (Hiawatha) and Bet The Farm (Grand River) also had Dancers Cam on their card, resulting in a nail-biter for the top four spots. South Siders (Hiawatha) rounded out the money winners.

The top five standings are as follows:

1^st San Diegos from Western Fair ($181.70 bankroll)

Prize: $5,000 + 1 seat per team member at the Trot Canada National Handicapping Championship in Fall 2011 (date/location TBA) to compete for $25,000

2^nd Gar-Al from Flamboro ($179.60 bankroll)
Prize: $4,000 ($2,500 + 25% of added monies)

3^rd Foolishey from Hiawatha ($169.70 bankroll)
Prize: $1920 ($1,200 + 12% of added monies)

4^th Bet The Farm from Grand River ($161.00 bankroll)
Prize: $1280 ($800 + 8 % of added monies)

5^th South Siders from Hiawatha ($55.80 bankroll)
Prize: $800 ($500 + 5% of added monies)

ROMP extends its appreciation to all players who participated in this league — the first of its kind in Ontario.

Complete standings are available here.

Participation in the tournament is up by more than 40 percent over last year’s inaugural tournament offered by Racetracks Of Ontario Marketing & Promotions (ROMP). Nearly 250 players from 80 teams competed in qualifying rounds each Thursday night for the past eight weeks.

Finalists represent the top two teams from each of the participating tracks: Clinton, Flamboro, Hanover, Georgian, Grand River, Hiawatha and Western Fair. A new wildcard component allows the next ten overall teams to also advance to the final.

The following list represents the 24 teams advancing to the finals, and their total bankrolls from the qualifying rounds.

GRAND RIVER

Odd Couple Plus One (Grand River)                  $ 481.80

Tee & Zee with Brooksie (Grand River)              $ 451.40

CLINTON

Butter Together (Clinton)                                    $ 282.90

Lucky Larry (Clinton)                                         $ 253.70

GEORGIAN

All About The Angles (Georgian)                        $ 532.40

Williams Connection (Georgian)                          $ 300.00

HIAWATHA

Foolishey (Hiawatha)                                          $ 314.10

South Siders (Hiawatha)                                     $ 276.40

HANOVER

V backs (Hanover)                                             $ 339.70

BBHK Stable (Hanover)                                    $ 323.90

WESTERN FAIR

WIN BY A NOSE (Western)                            $ 409.30

THE NELLIGANS (Western)                            $ 401.10

FLAMBORO

Money for Nothing (Flamboro)                           $ 380.30

Coffeetrucks (Flamboro)                                    $ 372.20

Wildcard: Next 10 teams

Bet The Farm (Grand River)                               $ 369.00

Gar-Al (Flamboro)                                             $ 357.20

PAPA JOE (Western)                                        $ 352.00

Just Guessin (Grand River)                                  $ 336.20

The Nexus (Grand River)                                    $ 332.50

SAN DIEGOS (Western)                                   $ 327.10

Team Geisel (Hanover)                                       $ 318.50

Team Sproxton (Flamboro)                                $ 304.80

RISING DOUGH (Western)                              $ 301.20

Guess Who (Grand River)                                  $ 299.50

Among the new contest components in 2011 is a $500 bonus for the team with the highest cumulative bankroll over the course of the qualifiers. Grand River Raceway’s Odd Couple Plus One held the spot for several weeks running, but were nosed out in the final qualifier by All About The Angles from Georgian Downs.

All About The Angles also won the last $200 weekly prize for the top scoring team. Each team pays a $10 entry fee and all fees are added to the $10,000 grand prize.

The prize distribution for the ROMP Handicapping Tournament Final on March 10 is as follows:

1^st – $5,000 + 1 seat per team member at the Trot Canada National Handicapping Championship National in Fall 2011 (date/location TBA) to compete for $25,000!
2^nd – $4,000 ($2,500 + 25% of added monies)

3^rd – $1920 ($1,200 + 12% of added monies)

4^th – $1280 ($800 + 8 % of added monies)

5^th – $800 ($500 + 5% of added monies)

ROMP extends its appreciation to all players who participated in this league — the first of its kind in Ontario — and wishes all teams the best of luck in the finals.

Participation in the tournament is up by more than 40 percent over last year’s inaugural tournament offered by Racetracks Of Ontario Marketing & Promotions (ROMP).

Finalists for the (estimated) $16,000 grand prize will be decided following leg eight on March 3. The finals on March 10 will be contested by the top two ranking teams from each of the participating tracks: Clinton, Flamboro, Hanover, Georgian, Grand River, Hiawatha and Western Fair. A new wildcard component allows the next ten overall teams to also advance to the final.

Also new in 2011 is a $500 bonus for the team with the highest cumulative bankroll over the course of the eight-week qualifiers. Grand River Raceway’s Odd Couple Plus One currently holds the title with a bankroll of $431.20.

A weekly qualifying prize of $200 is awarded to the top scoring team. Each team pays a $10 entry fee and all fees are added to the $10,000 grand prize.

The prize distribution for the ROMP Handicapping Tournament Final on March 10 is as follows:

1st – $5,000 +  one seat per team member at the 2011 TROT Canada National Handicapping Championship to compete for $25,000
2nd – $2,500 + 25% of added monies (estimated total $4,000)
3rd – $1,200 + 12% of added monies (estimated total $2,000)
4th – $800 + 8 % of added monies (estimated total $1,280)
5th – $500 + 5% of added monies (estimated total $800)
ROMP extends its appreciation to all players who participated in this league — the first of its kind in Ontario — and wishes all teams the best of luck during the final qualifying leg on March 3.

Current standings are available here.

2011 ROMP Handicapping League launches January 13

Racetracks Of Ontario Marketing & Promotions (ROMP) will kick-off their $12,000+ handicapping league at seven Ontario tracks starting January 13.

The second edition of the ROMP Handicapping League offers weekly prizes of $200, and a $500 bonus to the team with the highest overall bankroll at the end of the eight-week tournament.  The finals on March 10 will be contested for $10,000 plus all $10 entry fees collected during the tournament. (Last year’s finals were contested for $14,500.)

The league is offered at the following tracks: Clinton, Flamboro, Hanover, Georgian, Grand River, Hiawatha and Western Fair.

League teams consisting of two to three members will compete against teams at their home track, and the other six facilities. There is a $10 cost per team, per week, which entitles the team to three free programs from the three-track Standardbred menu (Woodbine harness, Rideau, Meadowlands). All entry fees are added to the $10,000 grand prize offering.

Each team’s weekly cumulative (hypothetical) bankrolls will determine which two teams from each track will advance to the finals on March 10. In addition, the top 10 teams that do not otherwise qualify as the top two from each track will also advance to the final. The winning team in the final will score $5000 and one spot per player in the 2011 TROT Canada National Handicapping Tournament, to play for $25,000.

Complete ROMP League rules and details are available on the ROMP website in PDF

ROMP is a collective of marketing managers from racetracks and industry associations working together to maximize marketing opportunities and resources.