The BIG One at Laurel Scheduled for September 26-27, 2015

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-Top Five (5) Win $10,000 Entry to Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (November, 2015)-Top TEN (10) Win Full Package to Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) (January, 2016)
-Places 11th through 20th win $1,000 Entry to Horse Player World Series (March, 2016) OR $1,000 Cash

Note that any DUAL QUALIFIERS to the NHC that finish in an NHC qualifying position will receive an additional $5,000 CASH prize in lieu of the NHC package. Note that all 10 NHC packages must be awarded, therefore the $5,000 prize comes at HorseTourneys risk/expense and is designed to provide compensation for dual qualifiers.

Purse and number of NHC and BCBC packages awarded to be adjusted based on final total number of entries and depending on volume through pre-qualifying events at HorseTourneys.com. Total purse may exceed $225,000 should all pre-qualifying contests sell-out at full qualifying parameters and additional buy-in entries are purchased.

WHAT
“The BIG One” at Laurel Park, an on-track handicapping contest with qualifying packages available exclusively through HorseTourneys.com.

WHEN
September 26-27, 2015. Two-day contest. Registration on Friday, September 25 and morning of Saturday, September 26.

WHERE
Laurel Park in Laurel, MD (outside Baltimore)

PRIZES
Estimated purse of $200,000 to $225,000 based on 50 fully sold entries (purse contributions will vary according to participation levels in qualifying events). Purse and purse distribution adjusted based on total number of entries at the discretion of tournament officials. Based on estimated purse of $200,000, expected prize levels:

Estimated prize distribution based on $200,000 purse. Note that these are DIRECTIONAL payouts only–final prizes and prize distribution to be determined by tournament officials once final purse number is determined.

Grand Prize: $80,000 + $10,000 BCBC Entry AND NHC Package

2nd Place: $40,000 + $10,000 BCBC Entry AND NHC Package

3rd Place: $20,000 + $10,000 BCBC Entry AND NHC Package

4th Place: $15,000 + $10,000 BCBC Entry AND NHC Package

5th Place: $10,000 +$10,000 BCBC Entry AND NHC Package

6th Place: $9,000 + NHC Package

7th Place: $8,000 + NHC Package

8th Place: $7,000 + NHC Package

9th Place: $6,000 + NHC Package

10th Place: $5,000 + NHC Package

11th thru 20th Place:HPWS Entry or $1,000 Cash

BCBC Entry: $10,000 full entry into the November 2015 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (Bankroll + Entry Fee) (one BCBC entry per 10 entries participating)

NHC Package: Seat to 2016 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (held in January, 2016) PLUS $500 travel reimbursement and complimentary 4-night hotel stay at NHC venue. NHC Packages awarded will be adjusted based on the total number of entries participating (one NHC package awarded per 5 entries participating).

HORSETOURNEYS.COM PACKAGES
Qualifying packages to “The BIG One” at Laurel Park available through HorseTourneys.com will be all-inclusive, including the seat to “The BIG One” at Laurel Park and purse contribution; $500 in travel reimbursement provided upon winning a qualifying package and complimentary 3-night hotel stay near Baltimore/Laurel area at a selected hotel venue.

Total value of package = $8,825 USD

CONTEST HOSPITALITY
Buffet and Open Bar throughout the duration of the contest. Cocktail/Dinner reception on Friday, Sept. 25 at selected venue, including dinner and Open Bar.

MAXIMUM ENTRIES
There will be a maximum of 57 entries allowed in “The BIG One” at Laurel Park. 50 of those entries will be made available exclusively for qualification at http://www.HorseTourneys.com. Five (5) entries will be made available on a buy-in lottery basis for $8,500 each. A total of (2) spots will be allocated to Laurel Park for pre-event on-site qualifiers. A player may play only one entry per person in “The BIG One,” however, players may continue to participate in qualifiers in their own name and transfer any additional packages won to another player, who must be present at the event.

FORMAT
Mythical contest format based on the expected conditions at the NHC Finals. $2 Win/Place wagers made on one horse per race. 30 total races (15 each day). 8 of the 15 races each day will be mandatory plays on races determined by tournament officials. The remaining 7 plays each day will be optional plays on racetracks selected by tournament officials. Payout caps of $42 to Win (20-1), $22 to Place (10-1).

HOW TO QUALIFY
Qualifying contests to “The BIG One” at Laurel Park will begin in January, 2015, and proceed through the week prior to the event. Go to http://www.HorseTourneys.com to check the upcoming schedule of qualifiers. The majority of qualifying contests at HorseTourneys.com will carry entry fees of $395, awarding one “The BIG One” package per 30 entries participating. Consolation prizes may be offered in some qualifiers.

BUY-IN ENTRIES
A minimum of five (5) buy-in entries will be made available to “The BIG One” at $8,000 each. If there are more buy-in requests than there are buy-in entries available, first preference will be given to those players that have participated in the most qualifiers to “The BIG One,” if applicable, in the order of number of entries played in qualifying events at HorseTourneys. Any remaining requests will be settled on a lottery basis. A $500 deposit will be required, refundable to those not winning a lottery selection and non-refundable to those winning lottery selection, if applicable. The number of buy-in entries and costs of those entries may be adjusted by tournament officials based on number of entries qualified to the event, including elimination of the buy-in option. To make arrangements to secure a buy-in entry, please email McKay Smith at support@horsetourneys.com for instructions.

QUESTIONS
Questions should be directed to McKay Smith, Operator/Tournament Director at HorseTourneys.com. Email: support@horsetourneys.com

Huge January Promotion – 5 PERCENT REBATE on Entry Fees Jan. 6 thru Jan. 31

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We’re announcing an unprecedented promotion in online handicapping contests. From today, Tuesday, January 6, through Saturday, January 31, all players will receive a 5 percent rebate on ALL entry fees played on contests during this time period.

Promotion Details:

-Players will receive a 5 percent rebate on entry fees played on any contests at HorseTourneys that run from Jan. 6 thru Jan. 31 (Example: Player plays $100 in entry fees; receives $5 in cash back to account)

-The rebate will be applied back to player accounts daily, overnight (before 8:00 a.m. ET the following morning) and will represent 5 percent of all entry fees played combined the previous day. The credited will appear as “Promotional Credit” in your My Account transaction statement

-Rebate only applies to contests that are played through to completion (any cancelled entries, either user-enacted or due to not reaching contest minimums, are not eligible for rebate)

-Rebate only applies to contests that RUN between January 6 and January 31

-Rebate only applies to paid entries and does not apply to auto-entries won into future contests through feeder events (Example: if player wins $155 entry to an NHC qualifier through a $17 feeder, the rebate is not applied on the $155 entry, only on the $17 feeder)

Any questions on this promotion, please direct to them to us through the Customer Support form or email us directly at support@horsetourneys.com.

HorseTourneys is now MOBILE – m.horsetourneys.com

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A new mobile site – m.horsetourneys.com – has just launched. If you are using a mobile device, your device will likely point to the mobile site upon visit. If it does not, navigate to m.horsetourneys.com from your device to access the mobile site.

The new site has been designed to make navigating on smaller devices easier, especially when making selections. For the most part, the mobile site operates the same way as the main site, but in a tighter package.

When making picks, players designate their Primary pick by selecting the “Pick” option for the menu when selecting a horse. To designate your Alternate selection, use the “Alt” option when selecting a horse. Selections still must be saved as they must on the full desktop version.

CLICK HERE FOR SCREENSHOTS AND MORE INFORMATION.

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2015 NHC Tour Registration Now Open At NTRA.Com; Prize Money Increased 25 Percent

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NTRA Press Release

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Thursday, December 11, 2014) – The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that the 2015 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) Tour will offer record prize money of $250,000, a 25 percent increase over the 2014 prize money of $200,000. Signups for the 2015 DRF NHC Tour are now being accepted at ntra.com/en/nhc/2015-become-a-member. The complete rules are posted at ntra.com/en/nhc/2015-nhc-tour-official-rules.

The DRF NHC Tour is a yearlong series that, in addition to offering record prize money, will offer 22 or more qualifying berths to the 2016 NHC in Las Vegas. The 2015 Tour officially kicks off Monday, January 26, and continues through December 31. A tentative schedule of 2015 NHC qualifying events will be released in coming weeks.

DRF NHC Tour participation requires an annual NTRA individual membership fee of $50. Membership is mandatory in order to compete for a berth in the 2016 NHC and must be in place prior to participation in any given qualifier tournament in order for top finishers of sanctioned NHC qualifying events to be eligible to compete in the January 2016 NHC – the lucrative culmination of the year’s qualifying schedule. The 16th renewal of the NHC will be held January 23-25 at Treasure Island Las Vegas, where Jose Arias of Bell Gardens, Calif., will defend his title. The 2016 NHC will offer a record purse of well over $2 million.

As was the case in 2014, the top 150 Tour points leaders at the end of the year will be guaranteed entry into the 2016 NHC, where the overall, season-ending NHC Tour points leader will be eligible for a $2 million bonus should he or she capture the 2016 NHC and become the first person to earn a seat to the 2017 NHC.

The NHC Tour prize pool of $250,000 includes a total of $50,000 in mid-year payouts to the top five individuals (who will receive $10,000 each) in the standings as of July 31. End-of-year payouts will total $175,000, with points based on a member’s top six scores (including at least one score from a brick and mortar tournament location). The overall Tour winner will receive $75,000 and a seat to the 2017 NHC, and the top two finishers will each receive a trophy.

The top 20 finishers at the end of the year will each receive prize money and be eligible to compete for a $25,000 bonus to be paid to the individual who achieves the highest overall finish at the 2016 NHC. This individual also will earn a berth in the 2017 NHC. The bonus money is in addition to any other prize money won at the NHC.

In addition to making one eligible to earn a coveted seat to the NHC, other NHC Tour benefits include:

  • Exclusive discount from Daily Racing Form on past performance subscription packages – 15% discount for first-time Tour Members and 10% discount for those renewing;
  • Individual membership in the NTRA, which include benefits and discounts from NTRA Advantage partners and membership in the Horseplayers Coalition that supports NTRA legislative initiatives in Washington, D.C.; and
  • Weekly e-newsletter featuring player profiles, timely tournament information and other event information.

Entering its 17th year, the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship 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 year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino race books, off-track betting facilities and horse racing and handicapping websites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. Each year, the NHC winner joins other human and equine champions as an honoree at the Eclipse Awards. The 14 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.

 

Wynn Qualifiers Begin Saturday, December 6

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The first qualifiers to the $200,000 Guaranteed Wynn Handicapping Challenge will take place on Saturday, December 6.  The Wynn contest, to be held July 31-August 1, 2015, is one of the most popular tournaments on the yearly circuit.  The contest is a $2 Win/Place mythical contest covering Saratoga and Del Mar cards for both contest days.

Players can win the $2,000 entry fee to the Wynn here at HorseTourneys.  The first entry-only qualifier will feature entry fees of $95, one $2,000 entry awarded per 25 entries participating.

Full package qualifiers that include allowances for both the hotel portion and travel will begin sometime early in 2015.  Note that this year, cash allowances will be awarded rather than hotel rooms booked directly through the Wynn, and players will be responsible for making their own hotel reservations through the Wynn sportsbook.

Daily Feeders into qualifiers are available each day.

Qualifiers to January 22 NHC LAST CHANCE Contest at Treasure Island Begin Sat., Dec. 6

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Players can win the $500 entry to the Thursday, January 22 Treasure Island NHC “Last Chance” contest, which will award a MINIMUM of five (5) NHC seats and hotel stays to this year’s NHC, which begins on Friday, January 23.

Note that players that have already earned one seat to the NHC MAY win a second seat in this last chance qualifier.

Qualifiers at HorseTourneys will be held on BOTH Saturdays and Sundays through the weekend of Jan. 18.

If players winning entries to the contest end up qualifying to the NHC before the contest, players may request an exchange of $500 credit – deadline to request is end of day Friday, January 16.

Daily Feeders Available for $16 into select weekend qualifiers.

Contact us with any questions.

MY ACCOUNT Section Upgraded; Includes Transaction Detail, Balance Tracking

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If you visit the “My Account” section (top right near account balance once logged in), you’ll notice some major improvements to that section, especially relating to your transaction history.  This new tracking is effective from October 16 onward.  An example of the new transaction history display is below:

Detail is now provided for all of the following: 
  • Deposits
  • Purchases
  • Withdrawals
  • User Cancellations (when player cancels an entry themselves)
  • Breakage Refunds
  • Prize Credits (winnings)
  • Balance Adjustments (those done manually by administrators)
  • Coupon Redemptions
  • Contest Cancellations (usually, when a contest does not fill to minimum entries)
  • Auto-Entries (when you win an entry into a future contest)
  • Declined Withdrawals (if your withdrawal was declined for any reason)
You may filter by transaction type using the drop-down menu on the upper right of the transaction section.  This will be helpful for players especially around tax season if total amount of purchases or deposits is desired:
You may also change details of your account profile (note that email change requests are sent to us via email and must be changed by HorseTourneys administrators).
We hope you find these new features useful; please contact us with any questions.