handicapping contest | Horse Racing Free Tips

King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge Returns to Kentucky Downs

Kentucky Downs' King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge returns Sept. 7 with a new one-day format and is highlighted by six graded stakes each worth at least $1 million. The $2,500 per-entry buy-in includes $1,500 for the player's bankroll and $1,000 toward the prize pool. Based on 100 entries, the prize pool would be $100,000.

The first-place King of the Turf finisher will receive an entry to the 2025 National Horseplayers Championships (NHC) and an entry into the 2024 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC), worth $10,000. In addition, the winner gets the designation as National Turf Handicapper of the Year and receives the Global Tote King of the Turf Championship belt.

At least five NHC packages and two BCBC berths are guaranteed to be awarded to the King of the Turf's top finishers. Additional prizes will be awarded based on the total number of entries. The tournament host takes no money out of the entry fees, with 100% going to the prize pool and players' bankrolls.

The 2024 meet will also feature two Play-In tournaments on Aug. 29 and Sept. 1. These competitions will have a $300 and $400 entry fee, respectively. Each event will feature two 2025 NHC entries plus entries to the $2,500 King of the Turf finals. Additional prizes will be awarded based on the number of entries. Online qualifiers for the King of the Turf finals and the Play-In tournaments will be announced later.

“We reconfigured the King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge into a single-day extravaganza that will offer more prize money and more prizes,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' vice president for racing. “We think the format will be attractive to big bettors and contest players while also providing play-in tournaments with much smaller entry fees. With inexpensive and sometimes free online qualifiers to both the play-in and championship, everyone has a chance to try to be King of the Turf and get the Global Tote belt.”

Phil Lam, the 2023 King of the Turf winner, will be presented his personalized Global Tote belt at the NHC at Horseshoe Las Vegas (formerly Bally's) March 15-17.

Players must bet a minimum of $300 per race for at least five races on the 12-race card, utilizing win, place, show, exacta and daily double wagering. The contest is conducted via online wagering through FanDuel/TVG, Xpressbet, NJBets and HPI Canada.

Online qualifiers for entries into the play-in tournaments and the 2024 King of the Turf Championship will be announced later.

For more information, click here.

The post King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge Returns to Kentucky Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Breeders’ Cup and HorsePlayers Launch HorsePlayers Happy Hour

Breeders' Cup launched the second season of HorsePlayers Happy Hour Tour (“HorsePlayers Tour”) hosted by In the Money Media (ITMM). The Horseplayers Tour will begin Thursday, June 2, at 2 p.m. ET, and will coincide with the HorsePlayers Happy Hour livestream every Thursday at 4 p.m. ET, featuring ITMM's Matt Bernier and Peter Fornatale.

The HorsePlayers Tour kicks off on June 2 with a $20 feeder contest on HorsePlayers.com, where sign-ups are currently live. Breeders' Cup will donate all proceeds from the HorsePlayers Tour online contests to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the Thoroughbred Retirement Fund.

Each week, players participating in the designated HorsePlayers Tour feeder contest will have a chance to earn tour points and qualify for the year-end playoffs. Points will be awarded to the top 10 finishers each week, starting with 100 points to the winner and descending in increments of 10 points to each respective place below that, with 10 points awarded to the 10th-place finisher. The top eight scores for each player during the regular season will be used to calculate the final leaderboard scores. The person with the highest overall score will be declared the regular season winner and earn a $10,000 BCBC seat.

Once the regular season concludes, there will be an 80-player playoff that will consist of the top two finishers from each of the weekly HorsePlayers Tour contests, as well as the remaining top finishers on the regular season leaderboard who have not already qualified.

Playoffs will start on Oct. 6 and be narrowed down to 40 players the following week (Oct. 13), 20 players the next week (Oct. 20), and 10 players on Oct. 27 for the Final Table. This schedule is subject to change. Additionally, a $179 BCBC qualifier will run concurrently each week of the playoffs.

The Final Table participants will compete during a special livestream format that will be broadcast as the final show of the season, with the winner earning a $10,000 BCBC seat. Players can have up to two entries at the start of the playoffs, but only one entry can advance to the Final Table.

To participate, players must have a valid Horseplayers.com account.

The post Breeders’ Cup and HorsePlayers Launch HorsePlayers Happy Hour appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Kevin Costello Captures 2021 NHC Title

Joseph (Kevin) Costello, a 53-year-old executive from Chicago, IL, rode the strength of four victories and 14 top 10 finishes in handicapping contests to run away with the 2021 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour title. Costello, who has qualified to the NHC each year since 2016, earned $75,000 for winning the NHC Tour and is eligible for a $5-million bonus if he captures the 2022 NHC Jan. 28-30 at Bally's Las Vegas.

“I always wanted to have the knowledge that I'm consistently good and that's what the Tour does,” said Costello.

Costello said he does all of his handicapping using a pen, a piece of paper and the Daily Racing Form Classic past performances. “I handicap races the way our grandparents did,” he said.

Costello won the Last Chance, First Chance NHC qualifier in Las Vegas on the eve of the 2021 NHC and won three other contests, including two at his hometown racetrack of Hawthorne Race Course, over the course of 2021. Costello concluded the 2021 Tour season with 22,540 points amassed from his top seven scores.

The post Kevin Costello Captures 2021 NHC Title appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

$50,000 Road To Louisville Contest Includes Prize Package With Chance To Purchase Indiana Yearling

Up to $50,000 in prize money will be offered in a unique contest coming to Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in early 2022. “Road to Louisville,” featuring 18 weeks of action beginning Saturday, Jan. 8 leading up to the Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 7, will include $20,000 in prize money with a unique twist thrown into the mix. The winner of the contest will have the option to purchase a yearling package at the 2022 ITOBA Fall Sale valued at $30,000 courtesy of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA) along with Indiana Grand.

“Road to Louisville” is open to players both online and on-track at Indiana Grand and Clarksville OTB. Weekly and monthly prizes will be provided as points are cumulative throughout the event. The contest, which will include numerous races each week from select tracks, will be completed on Kentucky Derby Day to crown the overall winner of the $1,000 prize money and a chance to own a future Indiana racehorse.

“Our contests both online and on-track have become increasingly popular, and we wanted to do something to raise the stakes next season,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “After talking with ITOBA President Tom Mosley, we decided to partner with them on our current breeding and racing program, which is so lucrative right now. The idea was created to get one of our loyal racing fans involved with a hands-on ownership experience and enjoy a risk-free way to enjoy the thrill of Indiana Thoroughbred racing.”

If the winner opts in for the purchase of a yearling at the ITOBA Sale, they will receive up to $15,000 to purchase a yearling out of the sale, plus an additional $15,000 for care and training of the horse leading up to its racing debut in the summer of 2023. ITOBA is facilitating the details and assistance for the new owner and their new purchase.

“We are always looking for ways to promote our breeding and racing program and when Eric (Halstrom) came to us with this idea, we couldn't think of a better way to introduce our program to new individuals,” said Mosley. “Giving someone a complete experience, from purchasing a yearling at the sale to watching it train and make it to the races is a great way to bring exposure to Indiana racing.”

“Road to Louisville” gets underway with the racing card from Gulfstream Park. Points are based on payouts for the selected horse in the contest races. Weekly prizes will be allotted to the top three players each week with the top handicapper receiving $150, second place receiving $100 and third place receiving $50. Prizes are doubled if the player is competing at either Indiana Grand or Clarksville OTB.

“We wanted to ensure the contest was available to all players everywhere who are 21 or older but we wanted to find a way to reward our racing fans who participate at Indiana Grand and Clarksville,” added Halstrom. “By doubling the prize money, this will entice those who live around either location to submit their entries in person. In addition to the weekly prizes, we will also offer a monthly prize of $250 for the player who has the most accumulated points. That amount will also double to $500 if the player is participating at Indiana Grand or Clarksville.”

A request for a list of rules and more details about “Road to Louisville” will be provided by sending an email to horseshoeindycontest@gmail.com. Entry forms and additional details will also be available soon on the website at www.indianagrand.com.

The 20^th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is set to resume Tuesday, April 19 and run through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Racing will be held Monday through Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with Thursday racing beginning at 3:30 p.m. A total of 12 Saturday racing programs will be held in 2022. For more information on events and racing, go to www.indianagrand.com.

About Indiana Grand Racing & Casino

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, which is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR), holds multiple awards for customer service, entertainment, gaming, dining, and diversity. Located in Shelbyville, Ind., Indiana Grand features more than 1,900 of the latest slots and table games in addition to a one-mile dirt racecourse and a seven-eighths mile turf course providing live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing each year. Simulcast and sports wagering is also offered year-round at Winner's Circle Race Sports Pub located on the casino floor as well as a Winner's Circle Race Sports Pub located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com/indiana-grand. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at sports books and casinos. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448) ©2021 Caesars License Company, LLC.

The post $50,000 Road To Louisville Contest Includes Prize Package With Chance To Purchase Indiana Yearling appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post