26 - 340  |   SH Challenge Day One

Peters rallies to capture $102,000 Sports Haven Handicapping Challenge

Qualifies for DRF/NTRA tournament along with 2^nd place finisher Robert Englander

New Haven, February 3, 2003 - Arthur Peters connected on four winning wagers Sunday afternoon to win the seventh annual $102, 000 Sports Haven Handicapping Challenge Sunday, Feb 2.

Peters, 66, from Lowell MA, earned the first place prize of $40,000. Robert Englander of Rocky Hill, CT, finished second, earning $15,000.

The first two finishers in the contest qualify for the Daily Racing Form / National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s national championship held in Las Vegas in 2004.

Peters was in 53^rd place with $3,000 going into the second day of the two- day contest. Contestants are required to make ten $200 wagers each day. The person with the highest total wins the contest.   

Peters placed $200 to win on Red Opal ($25.20) in the first race at Santa Anita. He had $200 to win on Crystal Sea (who paid $74.20 on track, but was capped at 20-1 in the contest, paying $42) and $200 to win on Timber Legend ($18.60). Having earned the lead, Peters then bet $100 to win and show on Pleasantly Perfect in the San Antonio Stakes. Pleasantly Perfect finished third ($2.10). For the two days, Peters had a total of $11,685 in contest money.      

Englander, whose brother is Richard Englander, two time Eclipse Award winning thoroughbred owner of the year, began the day in 83^rd with $2,060. He cashed three bets for a total of $10,780. Antonio D’Angelo, from New Haven, CT, enjoyed the lead for about an hour and a half late in the afternoon, but finished third with $10,330. He won $9,000 in prize money. Jim Cramer, of Galloway, NJ, entered the day with zero points, but won his last three contest plays (Crystal Sea (GP)  $42 cap horse, Alpha Saphire (GP) $40.80 and Splendeur (SA), $16.40). to finish fourth with $9,920. He tied Peter Previti, Floral Park, NY, for fourth. Both contestants won prize money of $5,838.   

Robert Weidlich, who won the 1998 Sports Haven Handicapping Challenge, was the leader after the first day of the contest with $9,660. Weidlich did not win a race Sunday and ended the contest in sixth place. He won $3,500 in prize money.

Complete results can be found on www.Betonthewire.com Autotote will conduct an On The Wire Phone Wagering contest Saturday, April 19. The winner of the contest will qualify for the DRF/NTRA tournament. The Bradley Teletheater Handicapping Challenge will be July 12-13.     

Autotote owns and operates the Connecticut Off-Track Betting system, which includes Sports Haven, Bradley Teletheater in Windsor Locks; RaceView Centers in Bristol, New Britain, Hartford and Torrington and Off-Track Betting branches in Bridgeport, East Haven, Milford, Norwalk, Waterbury and West Haven.      

Top 25  Finishers