Quest for 2025 championship begins Thursday
Shau Rau captured the 2024 Canterbury Park Handicapper of the Year title, his second in five years, by a two-point margin over Ray Davis. Rau, who has not finished worse than second in the past six renditions of the year-long contest, earned 16 points with scores in the Road to Kentucky Contest, Bet On Yourself, various $10 super satellites, a BCBC satellite, capping off the year by winning the final In The Money Contest. Rau’s biggest win was first place in the 28th annual Dog Days of Summer Contest which sends him to the $3 million National Handicapping Championship this March in Vegas. Along with the honors and a trophy, Rau receives a $2,000 prize. Davis receives $500 for finishing second.
Contests held throughout the year award Handicapper of the Year points. Those contests, which offer various prizes, award a minimum of one HOY point with some offering multiple points for multiple finish positions depending on the contest structure.
The 2025 competition begins this week with the $10 entry fee Spring Tune-Up Super Satellite Contests. The Road to Kentucky begins January 18 and runs each Saturday through Kentucky Derby Day, May 3. R2K awards weekly HOY points for first, second and third place finishes.
Oddsmakers annually provide future odds for the Handicapper of the Year contest.
Rau is the early favorite at 5/2. Bruce Meyer has seven HOY belts and has often been the early favorite. Absent from the leaderboard for most of 2024, other handicappers accustomed to seeing him in the mix were wondering if Meyer had given up the game. Recent poor performances, including a less-than-par five points last year, have in his words “left me lacking confidence and questioning my process.” Meyer is 6 to 1 and an eighth title is not out of reach.
Terry Severson, the 2023 winner, is 4 to 1. He tied for third in 2024 with Ray Hassan whose opening odds are 12 to 1.
Ron Hafner, a two-time HOY champion, is 6 to 1 off a fourth-place finish. Davis is a generous 12 to 1.
Longshots include Pam Kight and Ron White, persistent players capable of winning any week, are 50 to 1. Relative newcomer to the tournament scene, Trevor Juhl, could be an overlay at 50 to 1. Super Stats Dave, one of the Young Guns, had limited participation in 2024 and is 100 to 1. His tip sheet, Dave’s Faves, will be available once again each live racing day in 2025. Rick Dahl sped to the lead last year quickly hanging seven points on the board only to blank the second half of the year. It has been noted that if more contests had entry deadlines after 3 p.m. the night owl Dahl might be a shorter price.
The field is 30 to 1 and includes former champions Steve Leeper, Bill Ender and Mike Ferrozzo. Should Ferrozzo, an NHC Tour winner, take an interest in ’25 he would provide excellent value.
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