Day two of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), presented by Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe Las Vegas, and Racetrack Television Network (RTN), finished Saturday with Francis Boustany of Lafayette, La., maintaining his day one lead with a bankroll of $291.20. He will go into Sunday's semifinal round with a $13.20 lead.
This is Boustany's seventh NHC, and this is the most success he's had to date. He acknowledges “it's hard to have two good days, back-to-back and today I had almost the same total as yesterday.” Of tomorrow he says “anything can happen there's lots of good handicappers here. I have a really good total, so it's good to take that with me.”
The NHC field was reduced to the top 10 percent of players after today. The highest 10 cumulative scores after the Semifinals round on Sunday morning will fill out the Final Table. Bankrolls amassed during Day 1, Day 2 and the Semifinals round will roll over to the Final Table, with the 10 finalists settling the NHC score in seven “mandatory” assigned races.
The semifinal field of 78 contains six double qualifiers, Paul Calia, Ed Deicke, Jordan Jayne, John Nichols, James Pauley, and Steven Wells. Jordan Jayne in 52nd place with a bankroll of $179.90, is the final contestant playing for a $1 million bonus opportunity courtesy of Hawthorne Race Course. Three females, Linda Rodriguez, Cara Yarusso, and Christy Moore will be playing in the semifinals.
Second place leading into the semifinal round on Sunday with a bankroll of $278.00 is Paul Calia. Third place is Gary Fenton with $259.60, fourth place is David Browning with $243.40, and fifth place is Steven Wells with two entries and identical scores of $239.70. The full leaderboard can be found on NTRA.com.
The 2023 NHC winner, who will be named on Sunday at the conclusion of the Final Table, will take home a whopping $800,000, up from last year's grand prize of $725,000, and will be named Horseplayer of the Year at the 2024 Eclipse Awards. Total cash prizes to be offered over the three days are a record $3,115,350, a 33% increase over last year. The 2022 NHC paid out the top 64 finishers. This year, the top 78 finishers will take home prize money. The full prize structure can be found online.
Jude Feld Wins Ninth Annual NTRA Charity Challenge
The ninth annual NTRA/NHC Charity Challenge, presented by NTRA Charities, saw an eclectic group of players compete in an online handicapping contest that benefits charities and mirrors the NHC format. Racetrack announcers, on-air personalities, NHC sponsors, podcast hosts, journalists and other industry representatives compete each year. First place went to Jude Feld, broadcaster for Horse Racing Radio Network and a former trainer, who is also the first repeat winner of the Charity Challenge.
“Playing a contest is so much different than playing daily, because I look for horses that are at least 8-1,” said Feld of winning this year. Old Friends is my favorite charity to support and I supported it the first time when I won in 2020. The great work that Michael Blowen and his staff do to provide care for our retired Thoroughbred friends is so important to me.”
Feld's final accumulated bankroll of $84.40 topped the field for the day. His big win was the second race of the contest, which was Laurel Park's sixth race. Eldest Son won the one mile allowance optional claiming race for which Jude collected $33.60 on his mythical win place selection.
The top ten finishers in the 2023 competition were:
1. Jude Feld, broadcaster for Horse Racing Radio Network and former trainer
2. Rachel McLaughlin, Racing Analyst and Production Manager at Horseshoe Indianapolis Race Course
3. Frank Carulli, Handicapper and Blogger for Xpressbet
4. Ray Paulick, Publisher of the Paulick Report
5. Jeremy Balan, Journalist and Sportswriter
6. Jim Mulvihill, Editor of the BloodHorse Daily
7. Matt Carothers, Host and Analyst at TVG
8. Jeff Bratt, Host, Commentator and Handicapper at Woodbine Entertainment
9. Jay Privman, Retired Daily Racing Form reporter and Eclipse Award Winner
10. Rich Perloff, Host and Analyst at Fan Duel/TVG
This year, the “prize pool” doubled to $10,000 for charity, compliments of NTRA Charities. $5,000 is set to be donated to Jude's choice of Old Friends and an additional $2,500 will be donated to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. HorseTourneys.com hosted the Charity Challenge and Breeders' Cup provided additional prizes to the Top 3 finishers in the form of credits to their HorseTourneys.com account.
More on This Year's NHC
The NHC, the world's richest and most prestigious handicapping contest, features more than 600 top horseplayers competing for more than $3.1 million in cash and prizes. All qualifiers will received a complimentary four night stay at the Horseshoe Las Vegas and travel reimbursements which total more than $1 million.
The tournament format for the NHC is meant to be the best possible test of overall handicapping ability by picking winners. Players attempt to earn the highest possible bankroll based on mythical $2 Win and Place wagers. Assigned “mandatory” races – eight per day on Day 1 and Day 2, and seven at the Final Table – are announced at least 36 hours prior to each contest day via direct e-mail to players and publicly on Twitter (@NTRA) and NTRA.com.
The NHC field will be reduced to the top 10 percent of players after the first two days. The highest 10 cumulative scores after the Semifinals round on Sunday morning will fill out the Final Table. Bankrolls amassed during Day 1, Day 2 and the Semifinals round will roll over to the Final Table, with the 10 finalists settling the NHC score in seven “mandatory” assigned races.
In addition to its three presenting sponsors ― Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe Las Vegas and RTN ― the NHC is supported by official partners Daily Racing Form, EquinEdge, Four Roses Bourbon and Race Lens.
Interested spectators will have the ability to watch and listen to the action unfurling at the NHC all weekend in multiple places. Rachel McLaughlin, Racing Analyst at Horseshoe Indianapolis, will be hosting the NHC broadcast which will be available on all NTRA social media platforms. Additionally, At the Races with Steve Byk will broadcast live on SiriusXM satellite radio (Sirius 219; XM 201) from the Horseshoe Las Vegas and online at www.stevebyk.com daily, from 9-12 a.m. ET/6-9 a .m. PT on Friday and Monday, with bonus NHC coverage at www.SteveByk.com/listen-live-SiriusXM slated for 2-8 p.m. ET/11 a.m.-5 p.m. PT) next Friday-Sunday. America's Best Racing and Hawthorne will also be streaming live from the event.
To sign up for the NHC Tour, go to www.ntra.com/membership.
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