Category Archives: Uncategorized

2015 National Handicapping Championship Estimated Purse Raised 25 Percent To $2 Million

Posted on by

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.

NEW! Qualify to the Arlington/Trackside Handicapping Championship, held July 13

Posted on by

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.

LAST CHANCE to Qualify to Santa Anita Preakness Day Challenge is Kentucky Derby Day, Sat., May 3; Hundred Grander Next

Posted on by

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.

LAST CHANCE to Qualify to the Treasure Island Derby Weekend Contests (May 2-4) – This Sat., Apr. 26

Posted on by

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.

Updated List of On-Track Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge Qualifiers

Posted on by

The Breeders’ Cup has produced a calendar of the on-track qualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge.  Don’t forget that up to five (5) Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge full entries will be awarded through “The BIG One” at Laurel Park, set for October 11-12 at Laurel Park outside of Baltimore.

Questions on the schedule for the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge should be directed toward the respective contacts for each contest.

Click Here for the Calendar of Upcoming Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge On-Track Events

HorseTourneys Qualifiers Score Big at 2014 Horse Player World Series

Posted on by

It was a terrific collective performance by HorseTourneys qualifiers at this year’s Horse Player World Series, held March 27-29 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Leading the way was Ronald Frazier from Henderson, NV, who finished second and took home over $101,000 (we’e awaiting exact prize totals as yours truly misplaced the prize sheet).  Ron is an active HorseTourneys player that plays nearly every week.

Notable placings:

Ronald Frazier – 2nd place, $101,000
Kenneth Jordan – 7th place, $6,700
Kevin Willet – 8th place, $6,700
Kenneth Jordan – 9th place, $6,700
Eric Piniero – 12th place, $3,370
Les Harris – 13th place, $3,370
Denis McCormick – 15th place, $3,370
Glenn Stoner – 19th place, $3,370
Christopher Larmey – 20th place, $3,370
Charles Browning – 33rd place, $1,680
Howard Welsh – 35th place, $1,680
David Snyder – 38th place, $1,680
Paul Shurman – 45th place, $1,030

Congrats to all of our qualifiers for an outstanding effort.  Full results will be posted here as they are received.

 

Don’t Forget! You Can Use Site Credit to Purchase Entries Directly to Many Contests

Posted on by

Players may use site credit at HorseTourneys to purchase entries directly to certain contests.

In an effort to allow players at HorseTourneys to have more options with using their HorseTourneys site credit, we are now allowing HorseTourneys players to purchase entries directly to contests held at outside venues using their HorseTourneys site credit.

This means that players may use Bankroll Builders and Head-to-Head events for the purposes of stockpiling credits toward purchasing entries directly to contests such as the Horse Player World Series (HPWS), Gold Coast, Wynn, Orleans Fall Championship, etc.

Note the following stipulations:

  1. The contest that a player wishes to purchase entries to with HorseTourneys credit must be a contest that HorseTourneys already offers qualifying spots to. For example, this would include contests such as the Wynn, Gold Coast, Treasure Island, Orleans Fall Championship, Horse Player World Series (HPWS) and other contests offered at HorseTourneys.
  2. A $10 handling fee will be added onto the cost of the entry purchased. Example: player wishes to purchase a Gold Coast entry for $400 from site credit. A total of $410 in site credit would be required to purchase the entry and would be deducted from the player balance.
  3. Only entries may be purchased through this option. Full packages, hotel portions or otherwise are not eligible for purchase.
  4. If a player wishes to deposit additional funds to increase an existing site credit balance to the amount necessary to purchase an entry to an event, the player must add an additional 5 percent on top of the deposited amount to cover bank fees associated with the deposit.
  5. Purchases must be requested at least 14 days prior to the date of the contest. This provides time for HorseTourneys to compile all entries and make the proper payment to the contest venue per our normal accounting procedures.

HOW TO REQUEST AN ENTRY PURCHASE:

  1. Send us a Customer Support request through the Customer Support Form, or email us at support@horsetourneys.com. You simply need to detail:
    • Your name and email address associated with the account
    • Contest to which you are requesting purchase
    • The number of entries you are requesting purchase of
    • The player name you wish to assign the entry(s) to, if someone other than yourself (most entries are transferable)
  2. HorseTourneys will deduct the amount of the entry(s) and handling fee from your account balance.
  3. HorseTourneys will make the payment to the contest venue on your behalf and ensure that you are registered for the contest. You would need to do nothing more regarding payment or registration unless required by the contest venue.

Contact us at support@horsetourneys.com if you have questions on the above.

Qualifiers and Feeders Now Available for Treasure Island’s Derby Weekend Wager To Win Contests

Posted on by

Qualifiers and feeders begin this week for Treasure Island’s “Wager to Win” contests on Kentucky Derby weekend.  This year’s Wager to Win weekend will consist of THREE individual contests held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 2-4, 2014, at Treasure Island in Las Vegas (the host of the NHC).

Simply put, this is one of the best value propositions ever offered in handicapping contests.  The gist:

-Three (3) individual contests held Friday through Sunday, May 2-4
-EACH contest pays back 100 PERCENT of entry fees in the form of prize money to top finishers
-In addition, EACH of the three contests will award FOUR (4) Full Packages to the 2015 DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, including airfare and 4-night hotel stay at Treasure Island.
-Entry fees are $250/per event, with a maximum of 200 unique players.  Each contestant may purchase up to two (2) entries per contest, thus a maximum of 400 entries per event.

The above prize structure means that the NTRA packages are being fully subsidized by Treasure Island, resulting in terrific value for players looking to both qualify to the NHC and be eligible for healthy prize money.  For any serious contest player, this is pretty much a must-visit.

For full details on the contests, see the Official Rules here.

Qualifiers at HorseTourneys will carry entry fees of $60/each, and will award one entry to each of the three events ($750 total in entry fees) PLUS $500 travel reimbursement to pay for transportation to Las Vegas.  Packages will be awarded on a 1 per 25 entries basis.

Daily Feeders will cost $17 and will award one $60 direct entry into main qualifiers per every four (4) entries participating.  The first feeder will be run on Wednesday, March 5, with the first main qualifier held Sunday, March 16.  Qualifiers will be held weekly from then through the end of April.

Contact us if you have any questions.