Severson wins CBY Handicapper of the Year; Quest for ’26 title begins
Terry Severson won the 2025 Canterbury Park Handicapper of the Year title by accumulating the most points awarded in handicapping contests offered throughout the year in the Racebook. He receives a $2,000 prize. Bruce Meyer, a seven-time winner, finished second while Shaun Rau, Fred Williams and Rick Dahl tied for third. Severson also earned the honors in 2023.
Severson earned points by winning weekly super satellites in Spring Tune-Up, You Want In and NHC Qualifiers. He also won a week of Bet On Yourself and Road to Kentucky and finished fifth overall in the annual event.
The contest season at Canterbury Racebook begins Thursday with the Spring Tune-Up Super Satellite series that runs through March 14. Entry fee is $10 for each contest with one winner of a $100 satellite entry for each 10 super satellite entries. In other words, 100 percent of entry fees are returned as prizes. The player with the highest score each week wins one Handicapper of the Year point.
The 16-week Road to Kentucky Contest, which is free to enter, begins Jan. 17 with races from Fair Grounds in New Orleans. ‘R2K’ awards weekly cash prizes to the top five and Handicapper of the Year points to the top three. Hand-in-hand goes the Bet On Yourself in R2K contest that allows entrants to bet that their Road score will be better than all the others paying the $10 entry fee that day.
Additional contest are held weekly through the end of the year.
Severson has been installed as the favorite to win the 2026 title. Rau, also a two-time winner, is second choice. Meyer, who a had too-little-too-late rally after many experts had written him off, is 6 to 1. Ron Hafner, winner in 2010 and 2021, coming off a very disappointing 2025 contest effort is 10 to 1. Dahl moved into the top 10 last year by winning the Dec. 20 NHC Qualifier that has him packing for the Vegas finale in March. Never considered a threat to win it all, that victory may motivate a new-found interest this year; 30 to 1.
Betting Line for 2026 Handicapper of the Year
Terry Severson 5/2
Shaun Rau 7/2
Bruce Meyer 6-1
Ron Hafner 10-1
Rick Dahl 30-1
Super Stats Dave 30-1
Fred Williams 40-1
Field 8-1
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