On the first Saturday in 2023, Dan Fischer enjoyed a day that could prove to be something of a “year maker” for him.

As of this writing, we’re nine days away from the start of the first leg of the 2023 Tourney Triple, the $250,000 Guaranteed Flo-Cal Faceoff here on January 14-15. Already, the number of confirmed entries has the pot nearing its guarantee—which means that the pot could significantly exceed $250,000 by the time we see the puck dropped for the Faceoff. 

Even before Travis Pearson’s 2022 HorseTourneys Tour victory was made official, the 2023 HT Tour got underway with Kirk Tesar of Indiana taking the first event of the New Year—a $20,000 Guaranteed Pick & Pray—on Sunday, January 1st.

Once again this year, the HT Tour will be a year-long concluding on Sunday, December 31st. At least $85,000 in bonuses will be awarded. Here’s how the prize structure shakes out:

While the rest of us were saying “Happy New Year!” (except for Ohio State Buckeyes fans), Dale Hatfield was undoubtedly still toasting the Happy Old Year.

Is it a Month-End Blowout? Is it a Year-End Blowout? Who cares as long as $50,000 is guaranteed to be in the pot?

The only person more locked in than Santa Claus this weekend…was Gregory Lewis.

December 25th is the one day during the year that HorseTourneys turns its lights off, but weekend warriors will still be able to fill up on a sumptuous spread of 18 featured events on Christmas Eve…and Christmas Eve Eve. Of course, all 18 will be run as Pick & Prays, leaving you some additional time to shop, wrap, cook, spend time with relatives…or watch football—depending on your obligations and preferences.

Let’s just say it figures to be an extra-nice Christmas this year in the Sharma household.

It was a tale of two formats for Vineet “Please Don’t Squeeze the” Sharma on Saturday. Unlike most situations that get the “Tale of Two…things” treatment, however, both sides of this particular “tale” turned out well for Sharma. Very well.

With just three months remaining until the 2023 NHC, qualifying for the “Big Dance” takes on even more urgency. Those looking to maximize their chances at landing a spot in March can now—starting on Sunday—play in a 1-per-21 qualifier…and if you’re really lucky, your odds of success could be 1 in just 10.

Sometimes a contest day unfolds in such a way that favors some players more than others. People who like to bomb away with one longshot pick after another didn’t like Wednesday very much. The day’s top-priced winner, Hierro in the 7th at Gulfstream, paid just $9.40 to win and $3.00 to place.