From NTRA Press Release

Photo by NTRA/HorsePhotos

Mike Mayo, a handicapping tournament mainstay and the longtime Chairman of the NHC Players’ Committee, passed away Thursday, September 18 after a brief illness. Mike and his wife, Marsha, were familiar faces at racetracks and handicapping tournaments around the country, including at the NHC, where he was a 10-time qualifier.

Beyond the pari-mutuel windows and out of sight from most tournament players, Mike had a lasting and profound impact on the development and growth of the NHC, handicapping tournament play and Thoroughbred horse racing in general.

As Chairman of the NHC Players’ Committee, Mike was a tireless advocate for the horseplayer and a staunch believer that the NHC could help grow the popularity of horse racing. The Players’ Committee serves as a voice for all NHC tournament players and assists the NTRA with the establishment of NHC rules, formats and procedures. Under Mike’s steady hand, the committee helped set the stage for the 2008 launch of the NHC Tour, which connects tournaments through a points system and prize money. The Tour has helped fuel record participation in NHC tournaments and record purses at the NHC, which began in 2000 with a purse of $192,000 and this January will offer a purse of well over $2 million.

Mike was a longtime proponent of a “Final Table” format for the NHC. His vision become reality earlier this year when the NHC instituted a ”Final 50” and “Final Table.” By all accounts, the result was the most exciting NHC in the event’s 15-year history. Several years ago, Mike sent a letter to the NTRA formally requesting that the organization appoint a horseplayer to its Board of Directors. Mike felt strongly that horseplayers, whose wagering dollars fuel every aspect of the industry, deserved a seat and voice at the table. In August, Judy Wagner became the first horseplayer elected to serve on the 13-member NTRA Board.

Funeral arrangements for Mike were still pending, however, Mike did make it clear that he was not a big fan of flowers. He asked that horseplayers and friends consider a contribution to Old Friends retirement farm, to go toward the care of the beautiful animals that brought him so much pleasure. Contributions can be made directly to Old Friends, 1841 Paynes Depot Road, Georgetown, KY 40324 or online via PayPal at www.oldfriendsequine.org.

– Keith Chamblin

$12,500 to 1st – Pays to 8th Place

Ultra-Low Takeout: 10% – Compare to Any Other Tournament Site

PRIZES:
1st: $12,500
2nd: $5,000
3rd: $2,500
4th: $2,000
5th: $1,250
6th: $1,000
7th: $500
8th: $250

Entry Fee: $260
Entries: 107 (min. 86)

Daily Feeders into Final:
$58 / 1 entry per 5

$40 Head-to-Head matchups have been added, meaning you can now participate in Head-to-Head contests for as little as $22.

Santa Anita Park will be hosting the Autumn Handicapping Challenge on October 4-5.  The contest is a mega live-bankroll event with entry fees of $4,000, $3,000 of which comprises the player’s bankroll.

-Premier weekend of racing with six stakes races.

-Maximum two entries per person.

 –Qualifying players earn NHC Tour Points.

 **All monies predicated on 100 entries.

Please read carefully the following:

1. Players may now withdraw from their account balances at HorseTourneys. Please make sure to review the policies/guidelines as listed on the Withdrawal page.

2. Real money/bankroll building events have been added to the contest lineup. ALL real money/bankroll building contests will currently carry MAXIMUM gross takeout of 10 percent. This is the lowest takeout available from any horse racing tournament website.

3. Players from the states of Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana and Washington are prohibited from withdrawing funds from accounts due to state regulations; however, players from these states may continue to participate in all contests for the purposes of pursuing entries to on-site events through qualifiers at HorseTourneys (such as the NHC and HPWS).

4. ALL real money and bankroll building events will now have pre-determined prizes. Entries will NOT expand as they do for direct Feeder and Qualifier events depending on participation. Contests will run subject to the MINIMUM ENTRIES needed to run the event, which are listed to the right of the entries display and within individual contest descriptions.

5. In real money and bankroll building event, the MINIMUM ENTRIES required is equivalent to the prizes designated minus 10 percent (therefore, if a contest fills only to the minimum, HorseTourneys incurs a 10 percent loss on the event in addition to additional percentage points for fees associated with deposits). Because the minimums required to run a contest already represent a meaningful loss, the entry minimums MUST be adhered to for all events. It may take some time to determine the appropriate ranges of contests that activity on HorseTourneys will support. Therefore, we ask for your patience, as contests that don’t fill to minimums may be a common occurrence as we endeavor to determine appropriate levels and reduce cancellations as much as possible.

6. Entries for DIRECT Feeder and Qualifier events (such as the NHC and HPWS) will continue to be able to be expanded, with prize parameters determined by the number of entries participating in the contests.

7. Taxpayer information MUST be provided before withdrawals will be permitted for an account. See the Withdrawal page for details on how to provide taxpayer information. You do not need to wait to request a withdrawal to provide us your taxpayer information. A single 1099-MISC form will be filed with the IRS for any players with net withdrawals versus entry fees of more than $600 per year.

The handicapping contest community is saddened to learn of the passing of past NHC Champion Ron Rippey. Rippey, who just earlier in August won over $132k at the Wynn Handicapping Challenge, was an ardent promoter of both Thoroughbred and Harness racing throughout his over 30 years of work with the New Jersey Star-Ledger and was a top-flight handicapper and regular performer on the contest circuit. Above all, he was the consummate gentleman who was always in cheerful spirits.

My personal experience with Ron dates back to 2006, as I was administering the NHC that year, the same year he won the prestigious Championship.  I was the first person to congratulate him just moments after his longshot crossed the finish line first in the last contest race to seal the victory.  I recall how calm and gracious he was at that time.  Since then, Ron and I stayed in regular contact, either by communicating via e-mail, or by sharing lengthy phone calls at least several times a year, mostly with Ron recounting his recent experiences and his always-good suggestions on how to improve things in whatever I was involved in at the time.  Despite struggling with many trying health issues over recent years, Ron was always upbeat and always focused on the positive.  He held great pride in his long-term tenure at the Star-Ledger and took his position as a public handicapper very seriously.  He truly loved the game and was a respected comrade on the contest trail.  Those of us that had the privilege to know him will surely miss having him around.  Our sincerest condolences to his wife Arlene and the rest of the Rippey family.

Read the Story at the New Jersey Star-Ledger

Have You Tried an “In The Money” Contest Yet?

Check Out These Results!

The format is doing exactly as projected–producing one or a small number of winners, meaning great ROI for winners – and it’s fun!

Recent Results (based on $15 entry fees):
July 29: 3 winners won $130 ea. (ROI: 7.6)
July 30: 3 winners won $198 ea. (ROI: 12.2)
July 31: 2 winners won $297 ea. (ROI: 18.8)
Aug 1: 1 winner won $229 (ROI: 14.2)
Aug 2: 1 winner won $148 (ROI: 8.8)
Aug 3: 7 winners won $90 (ROI: 5.0)
Aug 4: 4 winners won $142 (ROI: 8.4)
Aug 5: 1 winner won $162 (ROI: 9.8)
Aug 6: 1 winner won $297 (ROI: 18.8)
Aug 7: 1 winner won $229 (ROI: 14.2)
Aug 8: 1 winner won $243 (ROI: 15.2)

Both Pick & Pray and Live format In the Money games offered daily. Look for higher stakes entry fees soon.

If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out the new SPEED PICKS option, which is available for any entry (with the exception of the All-Optional Format).  The Speed Picks Option allows players to make selections for all races in an entry on one screen in parlay-card style format.  It’s a great option for more experienced users and especially those that play multiple entries.

A tutorial is available that explains how to use the new feature.  To view it, click here.