Tag: NHC

Sally Goodall, Ray Arsenault Inducted Into NHC Hall Of Fame

Demonstrating remarkable success against the nation's top horseplayers over many years while earning their respect, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) proudly announced today that Sally Goodall, the 2020 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour Champion, and Ray Arsenault, the 2017 NHC Champion and Eclipse Award winner as National Horseplayer of the Year, have been inducted into the NHC Hall of Fame.

Goodall of Las Vegas, Nev., and Arsenault, from Thornhill, Ont., outside Toronto, represent the seventh class of NHC Hall of Fame inductees. Goodall and Arsenault will be recognized during the NHC Champions Dinner at the conclusion of the 22nd NTRA National Horseplayers Championship Presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment and Bally's, set for Aug. 27-29 at Bally's Las Vegas. Since its launch in 2014, the NHC Hall of Fame has inducted two impact figures each season, making Goodall and Arsenault the Hall's 13th and 14th members.

Goodall's induction is extra special because her husband, Richard Goodall, was inducted into the NHC Hall of Fame in 2020. In addition to the 2020 NHC Tour Champion title, Sally Goodall has qualified a record-tying 18 times for the NHC, which began with her first qualification in 2006.

“I don't have the words to express how excited and honored I felt when I received the call from the NTRA informing me that my fellow players had inducted me into the Hall of Fame,” said a delighted Goodall. “I have really loved playing in the NHC contests for 20 years and this wonderful honor is simply the cherry on top of my mooncake.”

Arsenault has quite a resume of accomplishments of his own. He is the second all-time NHC money winner. A hallmark of consistency, Arsenault is an 11-time NHC qualifier with four top 30 NHC finishes, and two top 10 finishes at the Championship in Las Vegas. Arsenault is an NHC Mentor, and worked with the NTRA to rename the NHC Rookie of the Year Award in honor of the late Jim Nace, a popular and longtime contest player, fellow mentor to many horseplayers and six-time NHC qualifier.

“It is a great honor to be put in the Hall of Fame and to be alongside the many people who are well respected in the game we love to play,” said Arsenault who became interested in horse racing contests in 2002 when he and a friend were watching his uncle in a Woodbine contest that was offering three seats to the NHC in Las Vegas along with cash prize money. “I knew then I would be going the following year,” Arsenault recalled. “In my second contest in 2004, I finished second, winning cash and a trip to Bally's for the NHC. It opened up a new world for me. I have met so many great friends and it has allowed me the opportunity to visit most of the beautiful race tracks in North America.”

The NHC Hall of Fame was created to honor and recognize outstanding contributions and achievements of individuals who participate in the NHC and the NHC Tour. Those considered meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Competed in NHC-sanctioned tournaments and played consistently well over an extended period of time.
  • Gained the respect and admiration of their peers.
  • Contributed to the overall growth and success of the NHC and/or tournament play in general, with indelible positive and lasting results.

Each year, nominees are selected by a panel of former NHC Champions, NHC Tour Champions, Hall of Fame Members, current Players Committee Members, and Tournament Directors. Final Voting was expanded this year to include individuals who have been Tour members for at least 10 years and have qualified at least once for the NHC.

In addition to Goodall and Arsenault, this year's Hall of Fame ballot included: Stanley Bavlish, Michael Beychok, Dennis Decauwer, Jim Goodman, David Gutfreund, Paul Matties, Jr., Rich Nilsen and William Shurman.

Goodall and Arsenault will be enshrined next to fellow NHC Hall of Fame members Roger Cettina and Richard Goodall (2020), Bryan Wagner and Trey Stiles (2019), Chris Larmey and Steve Wolfson, Jr. (2018), Paul Shurman and Steve Wolfson, Sr. (2017), Steven Crist and Judy Wagner (2016), and Mike Mayo and Ron Rippey (2015).

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NHC Rundown: Players From 11 States Gain NHC Berths

Each week, the NTRA will provide a rundown of those who have qualified for the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) the previous weekend. Twenty-one players from 11 states and one Canadian province earned automatic entries into the 2022 NHC from last weekend's tournaments at Canterbury Park, Lone Star Park, on Horseplayers.com, and through HorseTourneys. Shawn Damberger of Bismark, ND, qualified twice at Lone Star Park.
The NHC is the most important tournament of the year for horseplayers and is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino race books, off-track betting facilities, and horse racing and handicapping websites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. The 2021 NHC is slated to take place in the Bally's Events Center from Aug. 27-29 with the 2022 NHC set for Jan. 28-30 at Bally's.
Last weekend's qualifiers, and their respective contest sites, are as follows:
Canterbury Park
Bruce Meyer, of Prior Lake, MN, has qualified for NHC2022.
Horseplayers
Terry Jerge, of Altadena, CA, has qualified for NHC2022. Jerge's best finish was in 2016 when he finished 27th and cashed for $15,200.
Jon Van Niel of Chatsworth, CA, has qualified for NHC2022.
Louis Melone of Aberdeen, NJ, has qualified for NHC2022.
Laura Arth of Alexandria, VA, has qualified for NHC2022 after getting her first seat in 2017.
Jeffrey Pesot of New York, NY, has qualified for January's NHC.
HorseTourneys
Wendy Long of Surrey, British Columbia, now has two qualifying entries for the 2022 NHC after collecting her first spot three weeks ago on Horseplayers.com. On Sunday, Tapit's Flashback came from well off the pace to win Belmont's sixth race, and “paid a nice $24.20 for combined win-place” to help Long qualify again.
Ronald Tang of South Pasadena, CA, has qualified for his first NHC. In 2003, Tang got interested in horse racing when a friend invited him to Santa Anita Park. “I lived only 15 minutes away from the track but never went,” Tang recalls. “First day, I got hooked as I won about 50 bucks.” He credits his friend, Mike Somich, who also qualified this weekend (see below), with giving tournament play a try.
Tang's key wagers last weekend came in races at Pimlico and at Belmont Park. He cashed on 7-1 Baby Yoda, a first-time starter at Pimlico, and like Wendy Long, Tang secured 8-1 Tapit's Flashback closing strongly in the Belmont slop to help solidify his NHC berth.
Lone Star Park
Dellie “Al” Ford of Georgetown, TX earned his trip to the NHC.
Sam Sherman of Houston, TX has qualified for the NHC.
Shawn Damberger of Bismarck, ND, double-qualified on Sunday and Monday on what he described as “three great days at Lone Star Park.” The fun began in Sunday's final race when Damberger played the “biggest exacta of my life” and hit it with Kitty's Queen and Fancy All the Time.
On Monday, with his bankroll at about $3,000, the sixth race would prove critical. Damberger bet 30-1 Magna Punch, putting $20 across and wheeling him with the field. Magna Punch went gate-to-wire. An 80-1 shot, Where's Fredo, finished second, and Damberger's $1 exacta paid $2,250 to raise his bankroll to $12K. From there, he played conservatively and wound up finishing third. “I ended up finishing third on Monday after players went in heavy after a 23-1 shot that won the last race. If the bomb would not have won the last race I probably would have won. That is racing though and I'm just happy for a new experience in Vegas!”
Anthony Garafalo  of Loveland, OH, has qualified for NHC2022.
William Rendino of the Bronx, NY, gained his 2022 NHC berth. In 2020, finished 15th and cashed for $20,000.
Dylan Rossi  of Boca Raton, FL, is a first-time NHC qualifier.
Lawrence Kahlden of St. Petersburg, FL, has qualified for NHC2022. Kahlden has cashed three times in the Championships, taking home $28,000 and 13th place as his best finish.
John “Jeff” Farrar of Canterbury, CT, has qualified for the NHC in 2022. He finished 32nd in 2018 and collected $12,400. “I look forward to competing every year in the 'main event' of horse racing handicappers,” said Farrar. “It's great to compete, but also to see so many people I have met through contests.” Farrar hit a $100 exacta in the third race at Lone Star on Monday to get rolling and then picked his spots to land a top 10 finish.
Michael Pirrung of Irvine, CA, has now qualified for NHC. He finished 37th in 2015 and cashed for $11,040.
Robert “Bob” Gianquitti of Lake Worth, FL, has now qualified.
Chris Inman of Houston, TX, has qualified for NHC.2022.
Michael Somich of Raleigh, NC, who has qualified for NHC2022, co-hosts the “Magic Mike Show” podcast, with Kurtis Kalleward, presented by the Racing Dudes.
“It feels amazing!, said Somich on getting back to the NHC. “Qualifying for NHC is one of my top priorities each year and since you are unable to buy directly into the tournament that day you lock up the seat is always a memorable one.”
On Saturday at Lone Star, after hitting a cold $100 exacta that paid $1,100, Somich was in seventh place going into the last race. He went “all-in” wagering $1,060 on the 3-year-old filly Jedediah, who closed from third in the stretch to win a maiden special weight. Jedediah returned $4,100 to Somich, which gave him the tournament and an NHC seat.
Corey Esquerre of Metarie, LA, has qualified for his first NHC. Esquerre grew up attending the races at the Fair Grounds and Jefferson Downs in New Orleans. “My father and grandfather loved the horses and my mom would pick us up from elementary school to catch the last couple of races at the track. Everyone teases us by saying that we could read a Racing Form before we could read a schoolbook.
Esquerre's big wager came in Saturday's first race at Lone Star, nailing 26-1 Therunawayrocket, who ran away with a 4-length win in a 6-furlong claiming race.
“I'm very excited about this,” said Esquerre about his NHC berth. “I look forward to being in Vegas in January. After all, I've never been to Vegas before.”

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NHC Rundown: Olsson Double Qualifies For NHC 2022

Each week, the NTRA will provide a rundown of those who have qualified for the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) the previous weekend. A total of five players earned automatic entries into the 2022 NHC from May tournaments on Horseplayers.com and on HorseTourneys. Chris Olsson of Bellmore, N.Y., qualified last Saturday through on Horseplayers.com and on Sunday gained a second NHC qualifying spot playing on HorseTourneys.

The NHC is the most important tournament of the year for horseplayers and is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino race books, off-track betting facilities and horse racing and handicapping websites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. The 2021 NHC is slated to take place in the Bally's Events Center from August 27-29 with the 2022 NHC set for January 28-30 at Bally's.

Last weekend's qualifiers, and their respective contest sites, are as follows:

Horseplayers

Christophe Huttepain of Los Angeles, has qualified for his third NHC. In his first NHC, in 2015, Chris finished 24th, and cashed for $17,400.

Geoffrey Schutt of Salem, Mass., has qualified for his fourth NHC. In 2017, he bankrolled $9,500, finishing 52nd overall. Geoff finally qualified for his first NHC in his ninth attempt. “I realized I needed to change my handicapping completely because it wasn't just the horses, it was trying to learn (and handicap) other players who seemed to be doing everything right,” he recalled. “I know racing luck is a big thing, but there are players who consistently do well, and who consistently make the NHC (and win tournaments). So I tried to study the picks they made. It's been a huge thrill each time I've qualified since, and last Friday's Pick-and-Pray contest is no exception.”

Gregg Kingma of Las Vegas, has qualified for three of the past four years for the NHC.

HorseTourneys

Chris Olsson of Bellmore, N.Y., has qualified for his fifth NHC. His best finish was 26th in 2017, cashing for $15,600. Chris described qualifying twice last weekend for the NHC as “surreal,” and “just feel fortunate that a couple of photos fell my way.” On Saturday, Chris nailed three consecutive races, starting with a $28.80, 10.80 win-place payout on Philo, who won the 12th at Gulfstream by a nose. Later at Santa Anita, Big Passion paid $28.40 with a half-length win in the sixth race, and right after that Niege Blanche ($13.40) won the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes by a nose.

In registering his second 2022 NHC qualification on Sunday, Chris scored on Sanctuary City ($15.40) in the seventh at Belmont and then hit it big with Kanderel coming from behind in the stretch to take the fifth at Santa Anita,  and paying $31.40. Two more 7-2 shots “sealed the deal.”

As a teenager, Chris got interested in harness racing first, going to the Roosevelt Raceway on Long Island with his father before gravitating to Thoroughbreds. He credits Noel Michaels' book on tournament play and the contests and seminars that Michaels and Steve Phillips organized at Nassau OTB that were “instrumental” in Chris's improvement as a contest player.

Phil Hoedebeck of Wichita Falls, Texas, is now a 10-time NHC qualifier. He finished 20th in 2012 and 58th last year, cashing for $11,110. Last Sunday, Phil hit four of his last five races, including Runaway Rumor ($21.60) at Belmont and, like Olsson, bagged Kanderel ($31.40) at Santa Anita. Phil started playing the races in the Southwest at Remington Park, Blue Ribbon Downs and Louisiana Downs. He also owns a few claiming horses with friends, and races them at Will Rogers Downs and Lone Star Park.

Click here for the full NHC Leaderboard

Click here for upcoming NHC qualifiers

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Free Online NHC Qualifying Contest Scheduled Sunday, May 2

The second of four free online qualifiers for the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) is set for this Sunday, May 2, on HorsePlayers.com, the official online qualifying site of the NHC. The top five finishers in the contest will earn automatic berths to the 2022 NHC, which is slated to be held at Bally's Events Center from Jan. 28-30 next year.

Each winning prize package includes NHC entry, tour points, a four-night stay at the host hotel, and up to $400 travel reimbursement.

Registration is now open at https://horseplayers.com/contest/928050.

The remainder of the free contest schedule for 2021 is as follows:

  • 12 – One round, 5 NHC spots
  • 5-6 – Two rounds 5 NHC spots

Participants in the online qualifier must be a NHC Tour member for the current year in order to be eligible to win a qualifying spot to the NHC and must be a registered Tour member prior to participating in this contest. Players failing to register for NHC Tour membership prior to the start of this event will forfeit their opportunity to win qualifying package.

Tour membership starts at $50 and includes entry to the year's remaining free online qualifiers, as well as access to dozens of contests each week. To sign up for the NHC Tour, go to www.ntra.com/membership. Individuals also must be registered at HorsePlayers.com (free).

Every free online contest on HorsePlayers.com is determined by mythical Win and Place wagers on a series of mandatory races across the country with selections submitted in advance of the first designated contest race per the “Pick and Pray” format.

For more information on the NHC and NHC Tour, visit www.ntra.com/nhc.

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