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.

Below is a screenshot of the top finishers in the recent July 13 Arlington Handicapping Challenge.  Congratulations to the top finishers!

For complete standings, click here.

PRESS RELEASE

NEW YORK CITY (Thursday, June 19, 2014) – The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) today announced that the estimated purse for the 16th Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC), presented by Racetrack Television Network, Sovereign Stable and Treasure Island Las Vegas, has been increased 25 percent to a record $2 million. The 2014 NHC purse was $1,590,000.

An additional $200,000 in previously announced prize money will be distributed as part of the 2014 NHC Tour, bringing the estimated NHC and NHC Tour purses to $2.2 million.

The purse increases are fueled by robust participation in NHC qualifying contests by NHC Tour members (Tour membership is a requirement to be eligible to qualify for the NHC).

“Virtually all of our qualifying tournaments – onsite and online – continue to perform very well,” said Keith Chamblin, Senior Vice President of the NTRA. “We have more than 1,350 new Tour members thus far in 2014. The NHC will only grow as more people are introduced to tournament contests and experience the thrill of competing for a spot in Las Vegas and a chance at the winner’s share of $2 million in prize money. These are life-changing sums being offered to the top finishers.”

The 16th NHC will be held January 23-25, 2015 at Treasure Island Las Vegas. The 2014 NHC Tour schedule and the official rules for the 2015 NHC have been posted online at NHCTour.com. For the second year in a row, the Championship will feature a three-day format with a Final 50 and Final Table of 10.

Three tournaments scheduled for Saturday, June 21, offer NHC berths, including two online contests currently open for registration. DRF Bets (DRFBets.com) hosts the first of two Super Summer Challenge preliminary rounds leading to a July 5 final with four NHC spots up for grabs and HorseTourneys.com presents a “Live Format” NHC Qualifier with three guaranteed NHC entries available. The Belmont Park Handicapping Challenge at Belmont Park is sold out.

About the NHC

In its 16th year, the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, Presented by Racetrack Television Network, Sovereign Stable and Treasure Island Las Vegas is the most important tournament of the year for horseplayers. There are no “buy-in” entries at the NHC. It is the culmination of a yearlong series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino racebooks, off-track betting facilities and horse racing and handicapping websites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. Every year, the NHC winner joins other human and equine champions as an honoree at the Eclipse Awards. The 15 NHC Champions since the event’s inception, in chronological order, are Steven Walker, Judy Wagner, Herman Miller, Steve Wolfson Jr., Kent Meyer, Jamie Michelson, Ron Rippey, Stanley Bavlish, Richard Goodall, John Conte, Brian Troop, John Doyle, Michael Beychok, Jim Benes and Jose Arias.

Arlington International Racecourse and Trackside Off-Track Betting are pleased to announce their biggest tournament ever – the 2014 Arlington Handicapping Challenge set for Sunday, July 13.

The Arlington Handicapping Challenge is a live-money tournament with NO additional entry fee over and above the $2,000 betting bankroll.  The top five finishers in the tournament will earn their way to major national tournaments including the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Challenge (NHC) and the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) with four NHC berths and one BCBC berth available.

The first qualifier at HorseTourneys is scheduled for Sunday, June 1.  Players can win the $2,000 entry to the event plus $500 in travel reimbursement.  Entries are $98/each with a package awarded per every 30 entries participating in qualifiers.

Daily direct feeders into the main qualifiers will be available for $27.

For complete info on the Arlington/Trackside Handicapping Challenge, click here.

The final opportunity to qualify to the Santa Anita Preakness Day Challenge is this coming Saturday, Kentucky Derby Day, May 3.  The contest carries entry fees of $177 and will award the $4,000 entry to the contest (bankroll + entry) AND $500 in travel reimbursement.

The final installment in Santa Anita’s current contest series is the upcoming Hundred Grander, which will be held on closing weekend, June 28-29.  The Hundred Grander is a mega live-bankroll contest with entry fees totaling $6,500 ($5,000 bankroll and $1,500 entry fee).  The Hundred Grander is expected to award prize money of $100,000, with the top three players receiving NHC packages.

The first qualifier to the Hundred Grander will be held here at HorseTourneys on Saturday, May 17.  It will carry entry fees of $225 and will award one entry to the Hundred Grander plus $500 in travel reimbursement per 36 entries participating.  Daily feeders into the main qualifiers will be offered for $50, one $225 entry into the main qualifier per every five (5) entries participating.

The LAST CHANCE to qualify to the Treasure Island Derby Weekend “Wager to Win” qualifiers will be held here at HorseTourneys on Saturday, April 26.  The contest will carry entry fees of $100 and will award one full package ($750 in entry fees + $500 travel reimbursement) per 15 entries competing.

Daily direct feeders to the final qualifier will be held Wednesday thru Friday (April 23-25) and will carry entry fees of $28, one $100 entry to the final qualifier per every four entries participating.