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‘Last Chance/First Chance’ NHC Qualifier At Bally’s On Jan. 27

For contest players serious about competing for the biggest prize in Thoroughbred racing tournament play, it's never too late (or too early) to qualify for the National Horseplayer's Championship. The annual Last Chance/First Chance Contest on Jan. 27 at Bally's Las Vegas offers opportunities for all on the eve of the 22nd NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment and Bally's.

For those individuals still trying to make it into the field for this year's NHC, the Last Chance/First Chance is their final shot. For those who are already qualified, it's a way to earn a second entry and a strategic advantage over much of the competition. And for those who already hold the maximum two entries to this year's NHC, the Last Chance/First Chance offers the luxury of securing the very first berths to the 2023 NHC.

An NHC-eve fixture, the Last Chance/First Chance Contest includes races from Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Park and Laurel Park. The tournament format requires participants to make a total of 11 mythical WIN/PLACE wagers (four mandatory races and seven player's choice). A $500 entry fee must be paid in full prior to participating in the tournament. Players may register in person at the Bally's Race & Sports Book (Monday-Tuesday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m., and Wednesday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.) or online at NTRA.com. Participants may purchase up to four entries in the Last Chance/First Chance Contest.

The top five places in Thursday's Last Chance/First Chance Contest will receive a qualifying spot to #NHC2022 provided they are a current 2021 NHC Tour member. One additional qualifying spot to the NHC will be awarded for every 20 entries over the first 140 entries (the August 2021 Last Chance/First Chance Contest awarded 19 berths to last year's NHC). The top three will share a cash prize pool equal to 30% of entry fees (15% to first, 10% to second, 5% to third) with the balance of entry fees going to the NHC prize pool.

Only individuals who already have won two qualifying spots into #NHC2022 may compete in the Last Chance/First Chance Contest for a spot in #NHC2023. A player must be a 2022 NHC Tour member to be eligible to win a 2023 NHC spot and receive 2022 NHC Tour points.

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

The National Horseplayers Championship is presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment and Bally's Las Vegas. The Final Table is sponsored by Caesars Sports Book and Global Tote, A BetMakers Company. Official partners include 1/ST BET, Daily Racing Form, EquinEdge, FanDuel Group, Four Roses Bourbon, NYRA Bets, Race Lens, and TVG. Official charities of the NHC are the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

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Chicagoan Kevin Costello Wins National Horseplayers Championship Tour Title

Joseph (Kevin) Costello, a 53-year-old executive from Chicago, Ill., 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, who became enamored with Thoroughbred racing after watching Unbridled win the 1990 Kentucky Derby and learning that the horse was stabled for a portion of his career at Arlington Park near Chicago. 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. James Henry finished in second place with 20,218 points and $30,000 in Tour earnings, followed by Jay Johns (20,139, $20,000), Rob Henie (19,935, $20,000) and Brian Chenvert (19,770, $20,000). The complete 2021 Tour results can be found at https://www.ntra.com/nhc/leaders/.

Previous winners of the NHC Tour include: Sally Goodall (2020), David Snyder (2019), David Gutfreund (2018), Mike Ferrozzo (2017), Cheryl McIntyre (2016), Jonathon Kinchen (2015), Eric Moomey (2014), Brent Sumja (2013), Mark Streiff (2012), Paul Shurman (2011), Tom Noone (2010), Bryan Wagner (2009) and Sam Brooks (2008).

More than 5,000 NHC Tour members participated in 2021 handicapping qualifiers leading to the 2022 NHC. The 2022 NHC Tour season begins January 27 with the Last Chance, First Chance Contest at Bally's. To sign up for the 2022 NHC Tour, go to www.ntra.com/membership beginning January 17. For more information on the NHC Tour benefits and to view the official rules go to www.nhctour.com.

The NHC Tour is a yearlong bonus series offering additional prize money and qualifying berths to the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC). Membership in the NHC Tour is mandatory in order for top finishers of sanctioned NHC qualifying events to be eligible to compete in the NHC Finals in Las Vegas. Membership in the NHC Tour is open to adults 21 years of age or older and requires a one-time, annual membership fee of $50. The NHC Tour membership must be in place prior to the start of any given qualifying tournament in order for one to qualify for the NHC Finals at that qualifying tournament.

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Last Race Longshot Propels John Fisher To NHC Qualifier Win

Florida-based handicapper John Fisher was all but tapped out and ready to leave Hialeah Park's Champions Simulcast Center & Sports Bar late Sunday afternoon.

He was down to $100 from his total of five entries in the second-ever National Horseplayers Championship qualifying tournament staged at this iconic South Florida landmark.

Fisher bet his last money all to win on 22-1 longshot Cryptic Creed in the 10th race at Gulfstream Park. Less than two minutes later, jockey Jesus Rios guided the two-year-old maiden to a facile victory over the all-weather surface, producing a $45.40 payout that vaulted Fisher to victory over runner-up Phil Matzat and third-place finisher Ray Arsenault.

“I had packed up and I was at the door,” Fisher recalled. “I heard a big commotion from the tournament room and '10, it's the 10!' from the other handicappers. That was Cryptic Creed!”

The big payoff gave Fisher a total of $2,400 in tournament earnings, some $900 better than Matzat's $1,500, and almost $1,500 more than Arsenault's $908.

The champion collected $4,000 in prize money, with Matzat garnering $2,600 for second and Arsenault claiming $1,600 for third.

The top two finishers both earned seats in the National Horseplayers Championship finals at Bally's Las Vegas on Jan. 28-30, 2022, including hotel and airfare.

“I'll be there,” added Fisher. “I've been to 10 finals and I'm just as excited to go back for the 11th time! Champions was a great spot for the event. The staff treated us in a friendly and professional manner, and they fed us well!”

Overall, 46 handicappers purchased a total of 64 entries in the tournament and the Hialeah Park mutuel office reported a 74% handle increase over the average Sunday.

Champions Simulcast Center & Sports Bar, opened as “the go-to location” in South Florida for full-card simulcast wagering on Thoroughbred races in early 2016, features 180 television screens, 78 betting carrels (each with a 19-inch video monitor), 42 wagering windows, and space for 200 horseplayers complemented by an aggressive menu of simulcast wagering options.

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Kevin Harrell Captures Aqueduct Pick 6 To Earn NHC Berth In Indiana Grand Qualifier

Kevin Harrell of Marion, Ind. topped a field of 135 entries in the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Qualifier held at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino Saturday, Dec. 4. Harrell completed the contest with a bankroll of $2,851.75 in his win.

“I hit the Pick 6 at Aqueduct and that's what put me in the lead,” said Harrell, who is in software sales for health care. “After that, I only made one bet just in case someone came in later and took me off the top.”

Harrell plays in the NHC annually and received a trip to the NHC Finals set for Bally's in Las Vegas Jan. 28 – 30, 2022. The win at Indiana Grand was his second seat, so he has a double shot at a share of the $2.7 million in prize money for the final. This year will mark the fourth time Harrell has qualified for the NHC Final.

In addition to advancing, Harrell received $4,000 in prize money along with a $500 travel stipend to Vegas. By winning the Indiana Grand tournament, his hotel and entry fees for the finals are covered.

The top four advanced to the NHC Finals from the Indiana Grand Qualifier. Also heading to Vegas will be Rich Pawlowski of Pennsylvania, who won $3,000 for second place with a bankroll of $2,707.50; Greg Gass of Zionsville, Ind. who won $2,000 for third place with a bankroll of $1,766.00; and Steven Simonovic of Wisconsin who won $1,000 for fourth place with a bankroll of $1,483. All players received an additional $500 for travel to Vegas along with hotel and tournament fees paid by Indiana Grand.

“I've qualified in the past, but this is my first seat this year,” said Pawlowski. “I actually started out with two entries and at the last minute, went up and bought a third one before the deadline. That third one is the one that got me into second.”

Gass, who is a regular player in the NHC Qualifiers at Indiana Grand, adds his seat in the final to a previously earned seat for the 2022 event. He only played on one account to advance. This will be his second season advancing to the NHC Final.

Simonovic traveled by car all the way from Wisconsin with hopes of picking up a seat for the final. The event in January will be his sixth time qualifying for the final and he will also have two seats to play when the event kicks off at Las Vegas in January.

Of the 135 entries for the NHC Qualifier at Indiana Grand, players came in from 19 states for the tournament, which was a $500 live money event. The contest included races from 11 different racetracks featuring more than 90 races as options in the contest format.

The 20th 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.

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