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‘Old-School’ Player, Harvey Pack Disciple David Harrison Wins National Horseplayers Championship

David Harrison of Webster, N.Y., topped a field of 643 entries to win the $725,000 first-place prize and an Eclipse Award as Horseplayer of the Year at this weekend's 23rd annual National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment, and Bally's Las Vegas.

Harrison amassed a winning score of $342 over the three-day tournament from 53 mythical $2 Win and Place bets – 18 on Friday, 18 on Saturday, 10 in Sunday morning's Semifinal round, and seven at the climactic Final Table presented by Caesars Sportsbook and Global Tote, A BetMakers Company.

The 63-year-old Harrison, who makes his living as a real estate appraiser and collateral analyst, held a $30.30 advantage over A.J. Benton and the rest of the field entering the Final Table.

Despite a tightening of the TVG Leaderboard from the first six of seven Final Table races, Harrison did enough to hold off his rivals late.

“This is an absolute life-changing score,” Harrison said. “I'm a middle-class, middle-income, hard-working guy. This is going to help me hopefully retire a little bit earlier than I'd planned. I'm totally overwhelmed and don't even know what else to say.”

The contest came down to the Baffle Stakes at Santa Anita – a 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds – with Harrison $16.60 ahead of Benton and $17.20 to the better of Ryan Patrick Scully. The other seven were at least $44 from the top.

“The guys in second and third only had a few options,” Harrison said. “Don't Swear Dave went up to 4-1 and I thought, 'If I don't have that horse they could nip me. And my name's Dave! I can't let that horse beat me.'”

Even-money favorite Maglev hit the lead in upper stretch and drew off easily. To slam the door shut, Don't Swear Dave closed for second, making it impossible for anyone to catch Harrison. As Maglev opened up Harrison did not wait to see him hit the wire before raising his arms in triumph and leaving the stage to celebrate with his friends in a far corner of the ballroom.

Harrison started the day in 14th and made his big moves in the morning's Semifinals round. At the Final Table, no player moved more than one position.

“My goal was to creep up and I hit my first couple of races,” he said. “Then the one that really got my confidence up was the horse at Laurel – Let Me Finish. Every time I get into a discussion with my wife she's always telling me that – let me finish. That was one of my hunch plays and that's probably the reason I won.”

Harrison has been handicapping since the late 1970s, when he would frequent Belmont Park, and credits the late New York Racing Association broadcaster and handicapper Harvey Pack for teaching him how to handicap. After the trophy presentation, Harrison tossed his Daily Racing Form in the air in tribute to Pack.

“I'm an old-school guy,” he said. “I just use the Form.”

Scully ended up second with $324.80, good for a $200,000 prize, followed by Benton with $321, which was worth $150,000.

The official Top 10, with placing, final bankroll, name, hometown (and prize):

 1. $342.00, David Harrison, Webster, N.Y. ($725,000 + Eclipse Award + BCBC spot)

 2. $324.80, Ryan Patrick Scully, Montgomery, Ill. ($200,000)

 3. $321.00, A.J. Benton, Manchester, N.H. ($150,000)

 4. $293.80, Frank Paros, Jupiter, Fla. ($100,000)

 5. $286.00, David McCarty, San Diego ($75,000)

 6. $260.00, Sally Goodall, Las Vegas ($70,000)

 7. $253.20, Mike Somich, Raleigh, N.C. ($65,000)

 8. $252.30, Shirley Wolff, Holmdel, N.J. ($60,000)

 9. $243.50, Kevin Smith, Coral Gables, Fla. ($55,000)

10. $240.00, Dale Day, Yukon, Okla. ($50,000)

By virtue of his victory, Harrison also earns an exemption into next year's NHC and a berth to the 2022 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge worth $10,000.

The full NHC and Consolation Tournament standings can be accessed at NTRA.com.

The NHC was held for the third straight year in the historic Bally's Event Center, which for three days was transformed into the world's largest race and sports book. The next NHC in 2023 will be at the same property but it will bear a new name, Horseshoe Las Vegas.

The NHC finals awarded cash prizes to 64 players—the top 10% of finishers—from a total cash prize purse of $2,339,550. An additional $50,000 went to the top 20 in today's Consolation Tournament. Including $355,000 paid out to top finishers in the year-long NHC Tour, NHC Tour travel awards, RTN subscriptions, and the $10,000 Charity Challenge tournament prize, plus $30,000 worth of Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge prizes in the form of entry fees, airfare, and hotel, the aggregate value of payouts this weekend in NHC cash and prizes totaled $3,568,592.

To make the Semifinals cut, the 509 individual NHC players were required to place 36 mythical $2 Win and Place wagers – 18 on Friday and 18 on Saturday. The highest 10 cumulative scores after the Semifinals round on Sunday morning moved on to the Final Table. Bankrolls amassed during Day 1, Day 2 and the Semifinals round rolled over to the Final Table, with the 10 finalists settling the NHC score in seven “mandatory” assigned races.

Final Table participants were relocated to a single table in the middle of the Bally's Event Center that served as NHC headquarters.

Final Table Race Results

Race: Winner ($2 Win, $2 Place), Second ($2 Place)

Gulfstream, Race 10: 8-Skyro ($11.80, $5.60), 5-Mid Day Image ($3.40)

Fair Grounds, Race 7: 8-Citizen West ($7.40, $4.20), 1-Abuelo Nuno ($6)

Sam Houston, Race 6: 11-Red Run ($12.80, $6), 1-Bloodline ($8.40)

Fair Grounds, Race 8: 10-Big Agenda ($6, $3.40), 3-Forever Mo ($3.60)

Sam Houston, Race 8: [Dead Heat] 9-Another Mystery ($23.60, $16.80), 6-Fantasioso ($10.80, $9.80)

Sam Houston, Race 9: 2-Greeley and Ben ($9, $4.60), 10-Mr Money Bags ($5.20)

Santa Anita, Race 9: 1-Maglev ($4.40, $2.80), 6-Don't Swear Dave ($4.40)

NHC Tour winner Kevin Costello advanced to the Semifinals with both of his entries, finishing 19th ($206) with Entry 1 and 53rd with Entry 2 ($173.60), which was the one eligible for a $5 million bonus if he could have won the NHC. Costello was the only player with two entries in the Semifinals round.

Defending champion Justin Mustari checked in at 108th ($137.20).

In a separate Consolation Tournament for players that did not reach the Semifinals round, David Wolff of Holmdel, N.J., husband of Final Table player Shirley Wolff, won the $10,000 top prize with a bankroll of $141.60 from 10 optional races. The Consolation Tournament started with bankrolls reset to zero. Cash prizes totaling $50,000 were awarded, from the $10,000 first prize down to $1,000 for 20th.

NHC weekend concludes this evening with the annual Champions' Dinner, featuring the presentation of prizes and the induction of the 2022 NHC Hall of Fame class: Michael Beychok, Stanley Bavlish, J. Randy Gallo, David Gutfreund, and Paul Matties Jr.  

The 2022 NHC was the culmination of 310 qualifying contests held online and at racetracks and OTBs in 2021. From those contests, there were 44,553 entries played in hopes of making it to Bally's Las Vegas.

In addition to its three presenting sponsors – RTN, Caesars Entertainment, and Bally's Las Vegas – the NHC is supported by official partners Daily Racing Form, EquinEdge, FanDuel Group, Four Roses Bourbon, NYRA Bets, Race Lens, TVG, and 1/ST Bet. The Final Table, where only the top 10 players advance to determine final placings based on seven climactic races, is sponsored by Caesars Sportsbook and Global Tote, A BetMakers Company.

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Pauline’s Pearl Gives Asmussen Third Houston Ladies Classic Victory

A very successful renewal of the Houston Racing Festival at Sam Houston Race Park took place on Sunday afternoon in Houston, Texas, with exciting performances throughout the program and tremendous support by horseplayers here and across the country.

For the second year in a row, Sam Houston Race Park set a new all-source handle record with $5.98 million wagered on the 11-race program. This number topped last year's wagering record of 5.3 million and the $5.2 million wagered on the NTRA Great State Challenge in 2002.

Stonestreet Stable LLC's homebred Pauline's Pearl won the richest race on the card, the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic.

It was the third win in the Houston Ladies Classic for Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, who trained previous winners Midnight Bisou and Lady Apple. On Sunday, Pauline's Pearl, at odds of 3-5, joined the list as his third winner of the featured race since the Houston Ladies Classic was inaugurated in 2013.

“This is a very key race and the mares who have won this have a big say in the stakes for older mares,” said Asmussen. “Pauline's Pearl is a very nice Stonestreet homebred who has been training extremely well and we are proud of this victory.”

Asmussen spoke about the future of the talented filly.

“She won the Fantasy at Oaklawn last year, so we will head back to Hot Springs and hope she continues to progress,” he added.

The multiple graded stakes placed filly won the Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn Park last spring before competing in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She is a daughter of Tapit and is out of the Dixie Union mare Hot Dixie Chick, a multiple graded stakes winner who Asmussen also trained during her racing career.

With her share of the Houston Ladies Classic purse, Pauline's Pearl is just shy of becoming racing's newest millionaire, with $968,500 earned in 11 starts and four wins.

The victory gave Joel Rosario his second stakes win of the day. The pair sat off the pace early and had their work cut out for them as they swung wide in the final turn and pulled clear of runner-up Golden Curl in the stretch to win by 3 3/4 lengths. The final time for the mile and one-sixteenth on the main track stake on the main track was 1:44.43. Golden Curl sat comfortably in second place throughout the race with Tyler Gaffalione aboard for trainer Shawn Davis.

“The trip set up beautifully for us,” said Gaffalione. “She broke alertly and the favorite went ahead. I was able to get to her outside. She settled nicely and even though we couldn't catch the winner, my filly gave a good performance today.”

The 6-year-old Curlin mare is also bred by Stonestreet and is owned by George Sharp. She made her debut in Houston in the Ladies Classic and was a stakes winner at Remington last fall.

Corey Lanerie and Audrey's Time finished third for trainer Neil Pessin. Owned by Lothenbach Stables, Audrey's Time is a 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo who shipped in fresh off a win at the Fair Grounds in the $75,000 Joseph “Spanky” Broussard Stakes.

Becca's Rocket completed the superfecta while pacesetter The Mary Rose finished fifth, followed by Velvet Crush and Champagne Affair.

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Richard Duchossois, Former Arlington Park Chairman, Passes At 100

Richard L. Duchossois, the former owner of Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill., and known throughout the racing world as a tireless promoter of the sport and a gracious host at big events, died at the age of 100 Friday morning at his Barrington Hills home in suburban Chicago.

Born Oct 7, 1921, Duchossois graduated from Morgan Park Military Academy and was called in to active military service during World War II while attending Washington and Lee University in Virginia. He served in five European campaigns as a tank commander under Gen. George Patton and received numerous citations before being released from active duty as a Major in 1946.

From 1952-'80, Duchossois was CEO of Thrall Car Manufacturing Company, one of the nation's leading railcar manufacturers. In 1980, he purchased Chamberlain Manufacturing Corp. and became its chairman.

In 1983, as chairman of The Duchossois Group, he purchased Arlington Park from partners and led its rebuilding after a disastrous fire in 1985. Though he did not create the Arlington Million (that distinction belongs to the late Joseph Joyce Jr., who came up with the idea for the world's first million-dollar horse race when the track was owned by Madison Square Garden), Duchossois promoted it as only he could. He also conceived a special event in 1996 for Cigar's attempt to win his 16th consecutive race, equalling Citation's win streak. An earlier attempt to card a special race that would bring rivals Easy Goer and Sunday Silence to Arlington in 1990 failed to materialize when both horses suffered career ending injuries.

In 2000, Arlington Park merged with Churchill Downs, Inc. Duchossois became the single largest shareholder in Churchill Downs Inc. and still maintained a firm hold on Arlington Park's activities well into his 90s.

His ownership of Arlington was not without controversy. He closed the track down for two years in 1998-'99, upset that Illinois legislators would not budge on granting additional gaming to racetracks in order to compete with casino riverboats. Ironically, when legislators were persuaded to grant casino gambling to racetracks a few years ago, Churchill Downs leadership opted not to seek a casino license for Arlington Park. Instead the property was put up for sale and a deal was reached last year to sell Arlington to the Chicago Bears of the NFL for the construction of a football stadium.

Arlington likely ran its last race in 2021, with the Arlington Million's purse reduced and its name changed to the Mr. D. Stakes to honor Duchossois.

In addition to his ownership of Arlington, Duchossois at one time was an active Thoroughbred owner and breeder, basing his operations at his Hill 'n Dale in Barrington Hills.

Duchossois was a philanthropist throughout his life. His largest known donation was a $21 million gift to the University of Chicago for an outpatient medical center. His first wife, Beverly, for whom the Beverly D Stakes was named, succumbed to cancer after care and treatment at that facility.

Duchossois is survived by his second wife Mary Judith; son Craig; daughters Dayle (Fortino) and Kimberly; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to his first wife Beverly, he was preceded in death by a son, Bruce.

There will be no visitation because of COVID-19 and services and burial will be private.

Reactions on the passing of Richard Duchossois

“We are profoundly saddened today by the loss of Richard Duchossois. He was a tireless champion of Churchill Downs and thoroughbred racing. His impact on those of us involved in this industry was simply immeasurable. He was a mentor and friend to so many in Churchill Downs, most especially me, and we will all miss his grace, wisdom and humor. His contributions to Churchill Downs and thoroughbred racing were merely a small part of his extraordinary life. They call his generation 'America's Greatest' and to be fortunate to spend time with this man was to be in the presence of a truly special individual who led a full life of sacrifice, commitment and service to others. We will mourn him, miss him and wonder if there could ever be another like Richard Duchossois.”  – Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Inc.

“Richard L. Duchossois was a great American who served his country valiantly during World War II, and later served the Thoroughbred industry with great honor and distinction. Very few individuals exhibited the drive and determination of Mr. Duchossois in his very full and successful life. Following a devastating fire that destroyed the Arlington Park grandstand in 1985, he conducted the Arlington Million under tents, and it was dubbed as the 'Miracle Million.' He then rebuilt Arlington Park into one of the shining jewels of all racetracks. Mr. Duchossois propelled the Arlington Million into a top international showcase and paved the way for further interest in global competition among the world's top Thoroughbreds. It was our great pleasure to bring the 2002 Breeders' Cup to Arlington Park with Mr. Duchossois at the helm. We cherish his legacy and extend our deepest condolences to the Duchossois family.”  – Breeders' Cup

“On behalf of Illinois thoroughbred owners and trainers, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dick Duchossois.

“Mr. D served our nation with distinction and thereafter brought his enduring tenacity and exceptional work ethic to the helm of Arlington Park — a track he worked to build into a world-class destination for thoroughbred horse racing.

“As we mourn his loss, we are reminded of his immense contributions to thoroughbred racing in North America, most especially here in Illinois. His imprint on the sport and industry was vast and will not be forgotten.” – Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association

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NYRA Vs. Baffert Hearing Concludes; Several Steps Remain Before A Decision

Attorneys presented their closing arguments Friday in the week-long hearing between the New York Racing Association and trainer Bob Baffert in NYRA's pursuit to suspend Baffert.

(Read our recaps of previous hearing sessions here, here, here, and here.)

Closing arguments largely reviewed the evidence heard from witnesses over the previous four days. Henry Greenberg, representing NYRA, reiterated the company's concerns were not just based on the six drug violations Baffert picked up in 14 months or the fact that he had two adjudicated violations and an additional, unheard case on Grade 1 races, but also his public handling of those cases.

“He's got a playbook,” said Greenberg. “…Misstate facts, blame others, and avoid responsibility.

“Amongst the Derbies he has won is the Excuse Derby.”

Greenberg also pointed out that while Baffert's attorneys made much of the fact his drug violations took place outside the state of New York and resulted in no penalties by the New York State Gaming Commission. In fact, Greenberg said, as the owner of NYRA Bets, NYRA takes an interest in integrity issues which impact racing outside New York as well as customers wagering from out of state, and that those comprise a majority of the company's business.

W. Craig Robertson, summarizing Baffert's case for the defense, took issue with what he characterized as inaction by NYRA in previous cases, saying the organization's “hypocrisy knows no bounds.” Rick Dutrow, who was handed and ultimately made to begin serving a 10-year suspension, was allowed to continue racing there while he was appealing the case, and Linda Rice, who had her license revoked with the condition she not reapply for three years, is still saddling horses at its tracks. (Greenberg would later point out that Rice has a temporary restraining order in place preventing that license revocation from becoming active.)

Robertson also pointed to the case of Wayne Potts. NYRA said this week it had launched an investigation into the trainer's status following a report he refused to let one of his horses be loaded onto an equine ambulance in New Jersey this summer. When the Maryland Jockey Club determined in 2020 that Potts had been program training for embattled colleague Marcus Vitali however, NYRA released a statement saying, in part, that it would not revoke his entry privileges because he'd had no license taken against his license in that case.

Vitali will be facing a similar hearing to Baffert regarding possible suspension from NYRA in March.

Robertson said the racetrack ownership group seemed uninterested in Baffert's previous drug cases until last year's Kentucky Derby.

“That's what this case is all about,” he said. “Make no mistake about it, Your Honor. This case is about the Kentucky Derby and nothing else.”

“What are they so upset about?” said Robertson. “It comes down to a press conference and three interviews … A man wearing his heart on his sleeve, and now they want to crucify him for it.”

Robertson said Baffert's career was in the hands of Justice O. Peter Sherwood, pointing out that a suspension from NYRA facilities would negate his ability to ever win another Triple Crown.

Greenberg did not apparently dispute that the Derby and Baffert's subsequent mainstream media interviews which Greenberg said impugned racing officials' credibility was a tipping point for NYRA.

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“Here's what we would expect [of Baffert after the Derby] — that he'd honor the profession that has been so good to him,” said Greenberg “That he comport himself with dignity. That if he made a mistake, it's not a shameful thing to say, 'I'm sorry. I regret it. I'll do better in the future.' That's all we'd expect, that's all anyone would expect. And what we saw was the exact opposite.”

The procedures handbook set out by NYRA indicates that following the conclusion of the hearing, Sherwood will issue a hearing report which will be disseminated to both sides' attorneys and a panel of people appointed by NYRA's president. From there, both sides have one week to submit additional evidence or disagreements with the contents of the report. The panel will review Sherwood's report and any additional materials filed, and will “have the discretion to adopt, modify or reject any or all of the hearing officer's report, including, but not limited to, the appropriate disposition of the proceeding.”

There are ten days allocated for that review process, after which the panel will issue a final decision which is not appealable within NYRA's oversight.

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