Tag: Horseplayers

The 24^th National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) presented by Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe Las Vegas, and Racetrack Television Network (RTN) kicks off next Friday, March 10, running through Sunday March 12, at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. The field of an estimated 750 entries will yield one ultimate winner, who will go home with an estimated $750,000 and an Eclipse Award as Horseplayer of the Year.

The NHC, the world's richest and most prestigious handicapping contest, features more than 600 top horseplayers competing for an estimated $3.2 million in cash and prizes. All qualifiers will receive a complimentary four night stay at the Horseshoe Las Vegas and travel reimbursements which total more than $1 million. The complete field and total prize breakdown will be finalized following the Last Chance/First Chance Contest, held Thursday on the eve of the NHC.

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 in multiple places. Rachel McLaughlin, Racing Analyst at Horseshoe Indianapolis, will be hosting the NHC broadcast which can be watched on NTRA's YouTube channel and 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.

Of the 23 years of past champions, at least 11 will be returning to attempt to become the first repeat winner of the NHC – Judy Wagner (2001), Steve Wolfson, Jr. (2003), Stanley Bavlish (2007), Michael Beychok (2012), Jim Benes (2013), Paul Matties, Jr (2016), Ray Arsenault (2017), Chris Littlemore (2018), Scott Coles (2019), Justin Mustari (2021) and David Harrison (2022). While many NHC veterans will be returning, there will also be many fresh faces at the Horseshoe this year. Among those will be 2022 Breeders Cup Betting Challenge winner Drew Coatney, who will be making his first NHC appearance along with 142 other rookies pending the results of next Thursday's Last Chance/First Chance Contest at the Horseshoe Las Vegas.

All of the current 621 participants qualified via contests hosted by 34 racetracks, casino race books, handicapping contest websites, Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) platforms, simulcast distribution networks, horse owner associations, media outlets, and other Thoroughbred racing organizations. Outlets that held qualifiers to the #NHC2023 included At the Races with Steve Byk, Bally's Las Vegas, Breeders' Cup, Canterbury Park, Colonial Downs, Del Mar, FanDuel TV, FTHA, Gulfstream Park, Hawthorne, Hialeah, Horseplayers.com, Horsetourneys.com, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Keeneland, Kentucky Downs, Laurel Park, Little Red Feather, Lone Star Park, Los Alamitos, Meadowlands, Monmouth Park, NTRA, Race Lens, Sam Houston Race Park, Santa Anita Park, Saratoga Bets, Sport of Kings, Tampa Bay Downs, Treasure Island, The Big One, and Xpressbet.

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.

To sign up for the 2023 NHC Tour, go to www.ntra.com/membership.

The post Over $3 Million In Cash, Prizes Up For Grabs At National Horseplayers Championships appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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This weekend, FanDuel TV will showcase world class horse racing from coast to coast featuring major stops on the road to the Kentucky Derby including the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) from Gulfstream, the San Felipe Stakes (G2) from Santa Anita, the Gotham Stakes (G3) from Aqueduct and the John Battaglia Stakes from Turfway Park. The broadcast will also include exclusive coverage of the prestigious Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on Saturday.

FanDuel TV's Simon Bray, Mike Joyce, Caleb Keller, Joaquin Jaime, Christina Blacker and Kurt Hoover will be live from Santa Anita with exclusive interviews, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes coverage and the coverage will also include the utilization of the popular Jockey Cam as well as a drone camera.

With 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby points on the line in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2), the race has drawn a field of eleven Triple Crown hopefuls. Tim Yakteen will saddle five contenders including Practical Move, the winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). The $500,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) has attracted a field of eleven older horses including Proxy, a homebred for Godolphin for trainer Michael Stidham. The Grade 1 winner was last seen finishing fifth in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and will be ridden by John Velazquez.

The stakes-laden card from Gulfstream Park on Saturday features nine stakes races culminating in the $500,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) with 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points on the line for the top five finishers. FanDuel TV will have expanded coverage of the fourteen-race card with insights, analysis and interviews from Todd Schrupp, Scott Hazelton, Andie Biancone, Matt Bernier, Larry Collmus and Caton Bredar. There will be on-track reporting from horseback from Biancone as well as the Jockey Cam and Drone Cam to give fans watching at home an in-depth experience.

The $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), a stepping stone on the way to the Florida Derby (G1) on April 1, has a field of ten headlined by FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and Eclipse champion Forte. The dark bay son of Violence is a four-time winner and will have Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard for trainer Todd Pletcher. His rivals include Grade 1 winning juvenile Blazing Sevens who will be making his first start of the year for trainer Chad Brown.

In addition to racing from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, FanDuel TV will also be featuring Aqueduct, Turfway Park and more.

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The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, featuring an all-stakes sequence from Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn Park.

The Cross Country Pick 5 requires bettors to pick the winner of five select races from tracks across the country. The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country with each week featuring a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5, boasting a low 15 percent takeout, will continue each Saturday in February and March, offering sequences with races from Aqueduct Racetrack and partner tracks across the country.

The sequence kicks off in Race 4 [2:20 p.m. Eastern] from Aqueduct with Kentucky Oaks points on the line in the $200,000 Busher, a one-turn mile for sophomore fillies. The Busher will award the top-five finishers with 50-20-15-10-5 qualifying points towards the prestigious Grade 1 test on May 6 at Churchill Downs. The field of six features impressive debut maiden winner Ziaerati, who enters from an 8 1/4-length debut victory on January 15 for trainer Robert Falcone, Jr. The daughter of Into Mischief will face a formidable challenge from a pair of contenders for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown in Asset Purchase and Shidabhuti. Both fillies enter from last-out victories in the Big A with the former boasting an eight-length debut score in off-the-pace fashion.

The second leg will see older horses contest at six furlongs in Race 8 [4:27 p.m.] at the Big A, the Grade 3, $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap. The field of eight is led by the multiple graded stakes-winning Drafted, who looks to return to winning ways after finishing third to the in-form Repo Rocks last out in the Grade 3 Toboggan on January 28. Steep opposition will be provided by graded stakes-winners Runninsonofagun, who makes his return from a three-month respite; Eastern Bay, winner of the Grade 3 General George last out; and Chateau, the winner of this event in 2021.

The action switches to Oaklawn Park for the middle leg in Race 7 [4:50 p.m.], the $150,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders' at six furlongs for Arkansas-bred fillies and mares aged 3-years-old and up. The Tom Swearingen-trained Summer Shoes has never finished off-the-board in five lifetime outings and will look to keep that momentum going on the heels of a close third-place finish in a first-level allowance facing open company on January 29. The daughter of Commander's Shoes was a winner two starts back in a state-bred optional claimer by three-quarters of a length over returning rival Connie K.

Connie K will look to successfully defend her title in this event as she arrives from a distant fifth-place finish in the American Beauty on January 21 at Oaklawn for conditioner Randy Morse. The Street Strategy bay was the winner of a 5 1/2-furlong allowance in November at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Unbridled Twister, runner-up in last year's running, will look to claim her second consecutive victory after scoring a pacesetting optional claiming victory by a half-length on February 3 for trainer Al Cates.

The penultimate leg will see an overflow field vie for Kentucky Derby points in Race 9 [4:56 p.m.] at Aqueduct in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, a one-turn mile for sophomores that awards 50-20-15-10-5 qualifying points to the top-five finishers. Lugan Knight enters from a last-out victory in the $150,000 Jerome on January 7 at Aqueduct, besting Arctic Arrogance by a half-length after battling for command throughout. The son of Goldencents makes his graded debut for trainer Michael McCarthy after working extensively at Churchill Downs' training center. Carmel Road ships east for trainer Tim Yakteen on the heels of a runner-up performance in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on December 17. The son of Quality Road was an 8 3/4-length winner at second asking going the Gotham distance around two turns in August at Del Mar.

Several of the other 12 contenders arrive with graded experience, including the New York-bred General Banker, who finished third last out in the Grade 3 Withers traveling nine furlongs on February 11, and Fort Warren, who finished third in the Grade 2 San Vicente on January 29 at Santa Anita Park.

The sequence concludes with another six-furlong state-bred stake from Oaklawn in Race 9 [5:54 p.m.], the $150,000 Nodouble Breeders' for 3-year-olds and up. The Nancy Knott trainee Navy Seal arrives amid a run of good form, posting a 2 1/2-length victory in his latest outing traveling six furlongs in a state-bred optional claimer. He has finished on-the-board in four of his last six outings and is in search of his first stakes coup, his closest finish a third in the Work All Week in June at Hawthorne.

The John Ortiz-trained Gar Hole will look to defend his title in this event as he returns to state-bred company after finishing an even fourth facing open company in the King Cotton on January 28. His last effort against Arkansas-breds was a three-length victory two starts back in a six-furlong optional claimer in wire-to-wire fashion. The veteran 8-year-old Bandit Point, trained and owned by Robert Cline, seeks his first career stakes win after finishing second or third in this race in each of the last four runnings. He has earned $517,940 through a lifetime record of 48-5-8-11.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence will be available for download at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/cross-country-wagers.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct winter meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the best way to bet every race of the Aqueduct Racetrack winter meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, March 4

Leg A: Aqueduct Racetrack – Race 4, $200K Busher (2:20 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Aqueduct Racetrack – Race 8, G3 Tom Fool H. (4:27 p.m.)

Leg C: Oaklawn Park – Race 7, $150K Downthedustyroad Breeders' (4:50 p.m.)

Leg D: Aqueduct Racetrack – Race 9, G3 Gotham (4:56 p.m.)

Leg E: Oaklawn Park – Race 9, $150K Nodouble Breeders' (5:54 p.m.)

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The Late Pick 5 and Late Pick 4 will have pool guarantees on Saturday's 14-race Fountain of Youth (G2) program at Gulfstream Park.

The Late Pick 5 pool will be guaranteed at $500,000, while the Late Pick 4 pool will be guaranteed at $250,000.

Both multi-race wagers will have sequences made up of all graded stakes. The Late Pick 5 sequence will span Races 10-14, while the Late Pick 4 will span Races 11-14.

The Late Pick 5 sequence will be kicked off by the $200,000 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), followed by the $150,000 Honey Fox (G3), the $200,000 Davona Dale (G2), the $200,000 Mac Diarmida (G2), and the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2).

The Late Pick 4 sequence will be kicked off by the Honey Fox and anchored by the Fountain of Youth.

Eclipse champion Forte is scheduled to make his 2023 debut in the Fountain of Youth, the 1 1/16-mile dress rehearsal for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1), slated for April 1.

Saturday's 1/ST Coast-to-Coast will include the Fountain of Youth and the San Felipe (G2) from Santa Anita Park, and Saturday's 20-cent Rainbow 6 will span Races 9-14, kicked off by the $200,000 Herecomesthebride (G3).

A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 jackpot carryover pool is scheduled for Sunday's program. Heading into Wednesday's program, the popular multi-race wager has gone unsolved for 20 consecutive racing days following a mandatory payout, producing a jackpot carryover pool of $1,024,831. Should the Rainbow 6 pool go unsolved through Saturday's card, the gross jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $6 million.

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