SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022) – Bernie McGuinness of Carmel, Ind. was the grand prize winner in the $2,000 Racing Rachel’s Warriors final Wednesday, Nov. 16 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The contest spanned 26 weeks with the weekly winners vying for the $2,000 prize money in the final. McGuiness, a loyal horseplayer, participates in many of the contests provided at the track, but his win of $1,000 and a trophy in the Racing Rachel’s Warriors contest was the largest of the season.
Racing Rachel’s Warriors Final included five races on the card with contestants selecting one pick per race. The points were based on payouts for first, second and third. McGuinness correctly selected four of five winners in the contest, including longshot Sakic, who paid $16.40 for the win.
“I just liked the horse and the trainer combo,” said McGuinness. “The trainer (Devarus Douglas) is a young guy that is up and coming and that’s what I based my pick on. And the horse was only 3-1 on the morning line.”
McGuinness also correctly selected Win Me Over in the next to last contest race. The Bob Gorham-trained horse paid $10.80 to seal the deal for McGuinness.
“There wasn’t any doubt about Win Me Over,” added McGuinness, who is retired from Fed Ex. “Every race the last three months, he’s been getting better and better, plus he has a good trainer in Gorham.”
McGuinness and his wife, Karen, often attend the races at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He has been a longtime handicapper, attending the races with his uncle growing up and later his father, first at Arlington and later at Churchill Downs. When pari-mutuel came to Indiana, he was able to stay and play right in his backyard. McGuinness was the very first qualifier for Racing Rachel’s Warriors, winning during opening week April 20 to advance to the final.
“The real story here is my lucky shirt,” pointed McGuinness with a smile to his Indiana Champions Day pullover he received in late October. “That day was dedicated to the horse champions. Today was dedicated to the horseplayer champions so I made sure to wear it. I owe all my luck to the shirt.”
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