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.
2015 National Handicapping Championship Estimated Purse Raised 25 Percent To $2 Million
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.
ENTRY ONLY Contests Added to Weekends for Gold Coast Summer Classic
Note that ENTRY ONLY qualifiers to the upcoming Gold Coast Summer Classic will be run every weekend from now through the final qualifiers. The ENTRY ONLY version will run on Sundays, while the FULL PACKAGE qualifiers will run on Saturdays.
Entry fees are $40 for the ENTRY ONLY qualifiers, with one $500 entry awarded per 15 entries that participate. Note that feeders will only continue to be offered for the FULL PACKAGE version of the qualifiers.
LAST CHANCE to Qualify to Sam’s Town – Saturday, May 31
Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall in Las Vegas will be hosting a handicapping contest on Friday and Saturday, June 6-7. The contest is expected to attract 300 entries and will award cash, HPWS seats and other prizes. It is a $500 buy-in, mythical event. It is run by Carol Boyd who many of you know from the Horse Player World Series and other Boyd Gaming events.
Most qualifiers offered at HorseTourneys will award the entry fee to the event, a 3-night hotel stay in a Premium Room at Sam’s Town and $500 in travel reimbursement. The first qualifier will be held Sunday, April 13, and will carry entry fees of $60, with one full package awarded per 25 entries. Daily Feeders into the main qualifiers will be offered for $17, one $60 entry per 4 entries.
For the Contest Informational Brochure, click here.
For the Official Rules, click here.
NEW! Qualify to the Arlington/Trackside Handicapping Championship, held July 13
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.
NHC Purse Now Estimated at $1.8 Million
From NTRA Press Release:
NEW YORK CITY (Friday, May 9, 2014) – The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) today announced that the purse for the 16th Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC), presented by Racetrack Television Network, Sovereign Stable and Treasure Island Las Vegas, is estimated to be $1.8 million. The purse estimate represents a 13 percent increase over the 2014 NHC purse of $1,590,000.
An additional $200,000 in prize money will be distributed as part of the 2014 NHC Tour, bringing the estimated NHC and DRF NHC Tour purses to $2 million or more for the first time in the history of the event.
“Tournament play thus far in 2014 has exceeded expectations,” said Keith Chamblin, Senior Vice President of the NTRA. “Through April, there are more than 1,200 ‘rookie’ DRF NHC Tour members attempting to qualify to the NHC.”
The NTRA also announced that the 16th NHC will be held January 23-25, 2015 at the Treasure Island.
Official rules for the 2015 NHC have been posted online at NHCTour.com. For the second year in a row, the event will feature a three day format with a Final 50 and Final Table.
“This past January’s expansion to a three-day NHC format was well-received,” Chamblin said. “Based on research and other feedback from participants, we’ve made some adjustments to the format that we think will lead to an even better NHC in 2015.”
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.
About the NTRA
The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of more than 80 horse racing interests consisting of leading Thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers, horseplayers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on NTRA.com, Twitter (@ntra) and Facebook (facebook.com/1NTRA).
– See more at: http://www.ntra.com/en/nhc/nhc-news/2014/5/9/2015-nhc-purse-projected-to-increase-to-1-point-8-million/#sthash.8l8s0QxT.dpuf
LAST CHANCE to Qualify to Santa Anita Preakness Day Challenge is Kentucky Derby Day, Sat., May 3; Hundred Grander Next
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
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
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
Multiple $500 Travel Allowances Require 1099-MISC
Please be aware that players winning multiple $500 travel allowances in a given calendar year must be issued a 1099-MISC in accordance with Federal tax law. For instance, if a player collects for two travel allowances totaling $1,000 in a given calendar year, the player will be issued a 1099-MISC in January of the following year. Players have the option of exchanging additional $500 travel reimbursements for site credit if desired. A W-9 must be filled out and returned to HorseTourneys before funds for multiple travel allowances will be issued.
