The New Year Begins

Welcome to 2017.

Horses all celebrate their birthday on Jan. 1.

Horse players can honesty claim to be even for the year.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby begins in earnest for the newly turned 3-year-olds. Canterbury’s annual R2K Handicapping Contest begins Jan. 21. Opinions soon can turn to cash.

Bruce Meyer won the Handicapper of the Year title in 2016. This is Meyer’s fourth title having won the honor, and the $2,000 cash prize, in 2011, 2012, and 2014. He was the 5 to 1 favorite to win the 2016 title and delivered.

This coming weekend is the annual Canterbury Park Pirtek Snocross National, Jan. 6-8. There is a full slate of simulcasting and the casino will be hopping. Gulfstream has a good looking card Saturday with these stakes:  Hutcheson, Old Hat, Dania Beach (G3) , Ginger Brew and Mucho Macho Man which may include Even Thunder, winner of the 2016 Shakopee Juvenile and King’s Swan at Aqueduct.

Thursday also is the first day of the Horse Player World Series Super Satellite Contests. These $10 entry-fee contests are held each Thursday through Saturday with weekly winners qualifying for the Feb. 25 Satellite which will send players to Las Vegas to play in the HPWS. Test your handicapping skills with a chance at a mid-winter trip to Vegas.