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HAMPDEN, MA, HORSEPLAYER HITS TOP PRIZE IN HGP CONTEST

Winner Gino Loncrini (center) and third-place finisher Bill Smith grab the green in the June 19 HGP Handicapping Showdown

Gino Loncrini of Hampden, MA, had been burned once before after opening up a big lead in the Hinsdale Park Handicapping Showdown, so the retired state worker laid low in third place until the closing moments of the June 19 $10,200 contest.

“This time, I saved some bullets for the finish,” said Loncrini. “And I went right for the jugular in the last race of the day.”

His strategy paid off to the tune of a $5,100 first-place prize as Loncrini bested 101 other handicappers who had each anted up a $100 entry fee in the unique “all entry fees returned as prizes” Thoroughbred handicapping contest. The splits for the prize pool were 50 percent to the winner, then 25 percent, 12 percent, 8 percent and 5 percent down to fifth place.

John Gilberg was edged out of the top slot in the finale but held on for second money. Bill Smith was third; Sam Destafino fourth and Steve Lauria fifth.

The 102 contestants were the most ever entered in the ever-expanding HGP contest. The next date for the tri-annual event is tentatively set for early November.

For a complete list of finishers and their mythical contest bankrolls, see below pictures:

Second Place Winner John Gilburg

Third Place winner Bill Smith

Fourth Place Place winners Sam Destafino and friends

Fifth Place Place winner Steve Lauria

LONCRINI	10,940.00
GILBERG	10,680.00
SMITH W	9,760.00
DESTAFINO	9,000.00
LAURIA	8,980.00
GIGGEY	8,914.00
COVEY S	8,520.00
SOBOLESKI D	8,520.00
SESOK	8,408.00
TOMASINI	7,410.00
SIMEONE	6,420.00
MCCARTHY	6,160.00
WOLYNEC	5,960.00
FEDERICI	5,710.00
KOSTANSKI	5,430.00
COFLESKY	4,300.00
PELLERIN	4,040.00
LARRY	4,040.00
SORIANO	4,040.00
IACABONI	3,820.00
DISNARD	3,470.00
DEMASO	3,400.00
DOBRYDNIO J.	3,300.00
CLARK	3,070.00
GUTOWSKI	2,660.00
COOK	2,460.00
SHEHAN	2,280.00
JACQUES	2,273.75
LEMANSKI	2,160.00
LAWLOR	2,160.00
DIMITROPOLIS	2,160.00
FIEL	2,110.00
LOUPIS	1,940.00
WOODLAND	1,920.00
TIRRELL	1,886.75
CAVANAUGH	1,880.00
SLOWIK A	1,880.00
BANGS	1,780.00
MCGUIRE	1,780.00
DEROSIERS	1,780.00
KILMARTIN	1,780.00
DUDE	1,740.00
MERRIAM	1,620.00
FLEMING G	1,580.00
DIMITROPOLIS	1,580.00
JONES	1,400.00
WHEELER	1,315.00
MEAGHER	1,280.00
FISCHER	1,240.00
THOMPSON	1,240.00
SOBOLESKI P	1,240.00
BRUNO	1,240.00
WASEL	1,140.00
WILSON	1,110.00
RUSSETT	1,020.00
HOEW	1,010.00
ULAN	975
LUSSIER	970
SULLIVAN J	930
SULLIVAN	890
HARRY Z	880
FLEMING K	852.5
THORNTON	795
SULLIVAN M	720
COREY	680
KING	655
HARNEY	650
FEMINARI	620
ROSS	620
GIRARD	580
ZULKIEWICZ	580
SAGE	415
AYLWARD	400
ROUSSEL	370
RADWINSKI	155
BURBANK	85
ABARE	69
MILLOTTA	30
SMITH A.	0
SMITH A.	0
KOWALSKI