At the conclusion of the Final Table on Sunday, total cash prizes offered over the three days come to $3,013,550. The top 77 are guaranteed money with that final finisher receiving $10,150.

The top five payouts are:
First Place–$800,000
Second Place–$250,000
Third Place–$200,000
Fourth Place–$150,000
Fifth Place–$125,000

Along with following the leaderboard action through At the Races with Steve Byk, new to the NHC will be a Final Table livestream, co-hosted by Byk and Rick Hammerle, that can be found on the NTRA's X handle, YouTube channel and on their website for the final seven races of the contest.

Click here for more information.

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An admission donation is set at $25, while the restaurant is giving 10 percent of its bar business during the Derby Week event to Second Stride. Also, there will be the Smoke Easy Cigar Lounge, along with both live and silent auctions of racing memorabilia and experiences.

As in the past, the centerpiece will be the Kentucky Derby and Oaks handicapping panel, which this year includes Byron King, Andie Biancone, Steve Byk and Doug Nachman.

“Aftercare is no longer an afterthought, as the industry has embraced its obligation to take care of the horses who take care of so many of us at the track and breeding farm,” said Kim Smith, Second Stride's founder and executive director. “Every dollar raised on Champions Night will go to helping off-the-track racehorses and other Thoroughbreds in need such as broodmares and horses that never made it to the races.

Click here for more information.

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The NHC features more than 600 top horseplayers (including approximately 150 individuals with two entries), awarding nearly $4.5 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, Mar. 14 on the eve of the NHC.

New to the 25th NHC will be a Final Table livestream, co-hosted by Steve Byk and Rick Hammerle, that will be streamed on NTRA's X, YouTube, and Website for the final seven races of the Championship. Interested spectators will have the ability to watch and listen to the action unfurling all weekend long at the NHC. Rachel McLaughlin, Racing Analyst at Horseshoe Indianapolis, will be providing coverage throughout the weekend 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 9a.m.-12 p.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 Racecourse will also be streaming live from the event.

Also new to the program will be the Silver Sunday Contest, available to all individuals competing in the tournament with no entry fee. Every individual will receive a maximum of one entry and will have to place mythical Win/Place bets throughout Mar. 17 on 10 optional and seven mandatory races (the seven mandatory races will coincide with the NHC Final Table). The top 25 highest bankrolls, including ties, will receive a share of $100,000 in prize money. The top five highest finishers will win an entry into the 2025 NHC and the top 10% will receive on track 2024 NHC Tour points. A “First Five” free-to-play online contest will be available to non-NHC participants and will offer five berths to the 2025 NHC.

Information on the 25th NHC can be found at www.ntra.com  including the 2024 full schedule of events and the 2024 Official Rules.

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Woodbine Entertainment went on to win an Eclipse Award in the category of Feature Television programming for their production of “Secretariat: the Last Race,” and America's Best Racing, a multimedia marketing program run by The Jockey Club, received an Honorable Mention in the multimedia category for their video with Mage's owner, Ramiro Restrepo, at this year's Kentucky Derby.

Law, who represents the Turf Writers on the six-person Eclipse Award steering committee, said that in the past, the lack of unanimous approval had been enough to negate a rules change like the one to the media Eclipse Awards this year, or the awarding of a Special Eclipse Award or Eclipse Award of Merit.

“Obviously, as we all know, everything went through,” said Law of the rules change and the awarding of the Eclipse Award of Merit. “They presented the award and I asked them if we could not be included in the press release because we didn't really feel like our organization was behind it. We had basically full agreement by our board about this and about how it was handled, about how we were either ignored, or our concerns were ignored.”

The NTRA disputed Law's claims. In a statement emailed to the TDN on Thursday, NTRA President and Tom Rooney said, “With regards to the rules change, the Steering Committee continually converses to keep the rules reflective of the ever dynamic and changing landscape. Allowing industry outlets to submit media nominations, with the approval of the Steering Committee, is reflective of the changing media landscape and was agreed to by the committee. Additionally, the process for selecting any Eclipse Award of Merit and Special Award is decided on in coordination with the Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters in the same way that it has been for the past 25 years. This year was no different.”

Byk, also an NTWAB board member, agreed with Law.

“Both of these topics essentially dictated the spirit of cooperation and collective approach that has essentially ruled this system over the last 50 years,” he said. “It was clearly abandoned here. And the Eclipse Award of Merit, in fact, three of the last four years, or three out of the last five years, I think, wasn't awarded. It's something that you mentioned at Steering Committee, it gets floated and everybody has to agree. Everybody did not agree, and I was very proud of the collective, frankly, of the Turf Writers and Broadcasters when we had these discussions that we forcefully said, `This is a divisive decision and inappropriate at this juncture, but it was basically forced upon us and the forum.'”

Law, who won an Eclipse Award in 2022 for his story “Big Tally” in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred, told Byk, also an NTWAB board member, “I'm not even a year removed from winning one myself, so I understand what it means to win one. I don't take any of this lightly, and it was a serious business to me, and it still is. And after 12 years as President of the Turf Writers, I take it seriously and it means a lot, and I feel like I'm representing a large majority of our members with these statements that I'm making to you now. And, certainly, with the support of my board, which is very diverse and has a great representation of all the trade publications and geographic locations, as well, in print and broadcasting.”

The Turf Writers hadn't gone public with their disagreement until they had had the opportunity to discuss the issue with their members, which happened in a Zoom call Wednesday.
Law said that the Turf Writers had put an individual forward several years ago, and despite a 5-1 vote to award the Eclipse of Merit to that person, the one `nay' vote overruled that. “I didn't agree, but I played the game,” said Law. “Didn't complain about it. Didn't cry about it. But as I mentioned to our members yesterday, someone asked `what do they think will happen going forward?' I said, `Well, I mean, we've just emboldened them now. If you think that this won't happen again, you're mistaken.'

Archives of Byk's show are available here.

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Beginning this year, the Historic Review Committee will start an annual rotation to examine a specific era of American racing history. Only candidates from within the designated era will be considered for Hall of Fame induction during that year's review process.

Previously, the Historic Review Committee met three out of every four years and considered all candidates from throughout history dating back to the colonial days as a collective exercise (as long as they have been out of competition more than 25 years).

In 2024, the Historic Review Committee will consider only pre-1900 horses, jockeys, and trainers. In 2025, the Committee will review candidates from the era of 1900 through 1959. In 2026, it will examine the years of 1960 through 2000. The process will cycle back to pre-1900 candidates in 2027. All qualified candidates active within the past 25 years are eligible to be considered through the separate annual contemporary nomination and election process.

The Historic Review Committee can select a maximum of three Hall of Fame inductees per year–any combination of horses, jockeys, and trainers–and requires each of those choices to receive 75 percent approval from the committee for election.

“I believe these changes will make for a more effective evaluation process for historic candidates being considered for the Hall of Fame,” said Brien Bouyea, the Museum's Hall of Fame and Communications Director. “Evaluating the achievements of a horse or human from before 1900 alongside one from perhaps a century later is an apples vs. oranges exercise that we wanted to improve upon.”

Chaired by author and racing historian Michael Veitch, the Pre-1900 Historic Review Committee will also include Edward L. Bowen, Ken Grayson, Jennifer Kelly, Dorothy Ours, Josh Pons, Mary Simon and Gary West.

The 2024 Hall of Fame class, which will also include the contemporary electees and selections made by the Pillars of the Turf Committee, will be announced in late April.

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Running from July 15 through Sept. 4, Byk will select the weekend stakes races that comprise that week's promotion and announce them his show and on his Twitter page. During the initial promotional period, there will be 17 chances to qualify to the Beat Byk NHC Online Qualifier on September 16. Listeners will be encouraged to either use Byk's selection to win the featured race or try to 'Beat Byk' by selecting another horse.

Those who correctly select the winning horse in each round will advance to a NHC “Beat Byk” online qualifier on September 16. Participants may qualify only once during the promotional period. The winner of the “Beat Byk” online qualifier will represent “At the Races” at the 2024 NHC where qualifiers will be celebrating the NHC's 25th anniversary at the Horseshoe Las Vegas.

NHC Tour membership is required to compete in the September NHC online qualifier. Complete rules for the Beat Byk Challenge can be found on the NTRA website.

The post Fifth Annual Beat Byk NHC Challenge Promotion To Return in July appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A horse ownership stake with Skychai Racing, an outdoor cigar lounge and multiple ready-for-Instagram backgrounds are just a few of the new features added this year to Second Stride's 12th annual Derby week Champions Night at Molly Malone's in the Highlands section of Louisville Monday, May 1 from 6-9 pm.

Of all fundraisers taking place Derby week, it is the only event raising money for the horses, enabling the Louisville-based organization to continue to provide professional rehabilitation, retraining and placement of retired thoroughbred racehorses.  Placing over 100 horses per year, Second Stride aims to increase that figure significantly and relies heavily upon money raised during this pinnacle event.

The event, sponsored by Skychai, will feature a timely handicapping session as the Kentucky Oaks and Derby draw will have occurred only hours earlier. The discussion will be moderated by Byron King of Blood-Horse and panelists include: Fanduel/TVG's Andie Biancone, At the Races host Steve Byk, Churchill Downs Director of Racing Gary Palmisano and St. Louis radio show host and handicapper Doug Nachman.

“Being involved in the sport of kings is an immense privilege which comes with great responsibility,” said Biancone. “Aftercare is everything and Second Stride does such a great job. They have even helped re-home some of my dad's horses and I'm happy to lend my support for this event.”

Champions Night will host auctions and raffles throughout the evening. The online silent auction featuring exclusive items is already open for bidding closing Derby Day, Saturday, May 6.

Champions Night looks forward to welcoming back in person the many trainers, owners, jockeys, fans and other industry notables who faithfully attend in support of the horses. The event is open to the public. Tickets are not required but there is a suggested donation of $20 at the door.

Click here for more details.

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Summer Wind Equine was awarded a bronze mare and foal as the breeder of Flightline (Tapit), who was crowned Champion Kentucky-Bred Horse of the Year and Champion Kentucky-Bred Older Dirt Male.

Godolphin received multiple bronzes as the recipient of the P.A.B. Widener Trophy, best known as the KTOB Breeder of the Year, as well as KTDF Owner & Breeder of the Year.

2022 KTOB Broodmare of the Year and her owner and 2022 Champion Kentucky-Breds and their breeders:
Broodmare of the Year: Dreaming of Julia (Owner: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC)
Horse of the Year, Older Dirt Male: Flightline (Summer Wind Equine)
Two-Year-Old Male: Forte (South Gate Farm)
Two-Year-Old Filly: Wonder Wheel (Three Chimneys Farm, LLC & Clearsky Farms)
Three-Year-Old Male: Epicenter (Westwind Farms)
Three-Year-Old Filly: Nest (Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables)
Older Dirt Female: Malathaat (Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC)
Male Turf Horse: Casa Creed (Silver Springs Stud, LLC)
Female Turf Horse: War like Goddess (Calumet Farm)
Male Sprinter: Jackie's Warrior (J & J Stables)
Female Sprinter: Goodnight Olive (Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC)
Racing Abroad: Country Grammer (Scott Pierce & Debbie Pierce)
Steeplechase Horse: Snap Decision (Phipps Stable)

Four merit awards will be presented to individuals for their contributions to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Industry.

2022 Merit awards will be presented at the KTOB Awards Dinner Presented by Anthem:
P.A.B. Widener Trophy for KTOB Breeder of the Year: Godolphin
Hardboot Breeders' Award pays tribute to distinctive but unsung breeders that help make up the backbone of our industry: John Williams
Charles W. Engelhard Award acknowledges a member of the media for outstanding coverage of the Thoroughbred Industry: Steve Byk
William T. Young Humanitarian Award distinguishes a person or organization in the thoroughbred industry “who recognizes and promotes the human endeavor: H. Greg Goodman

Also to receive awards are the top Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) money earners in 2022 in five separate categories.

2022 Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) Leaders:
KTDF Sire of the Year: into Mischief (Spendthrift Farm)
KTDF Earner of the Year: Kitodan (Foster Family Racing, Douglas E. Miller & William J. Wargel)
KTDF Owner of the Year: Godolphin
KTDF Trainer of the Year: Brad Cox
KTDF Breeder of the Year: Godolphin

Recipients of the 2022 KTOB Kentucky-Bred Champion awards were voted on by the full membership of KTA/KTOB while the KTDF category leaders were tabulated using purse money won at Kentucky racetracks in 2022. KTOB merit award recipients were voted on by the KTA/KTOB Board of Directors.

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The workshop, which will be held in the Catalina Ballroom – Salon L, will begin at 3:00 p.m. MST, and is part of the 47th annual University of Arizona Global Symposium on Racing.

Any registered symposium attendee will receive a $500 discount on the purchase of an NHC berth to be awarded at their organization's contest during the 2022 NHC Tour season.

The complete agenda for Monday's workshop is below:

National Horseplayers Championship Workshop
Monday, December 6
Catalina Ballroom – Salon L
3:00-5:00 pm MST

Agenda

1. National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Introduction and Survey Findings
Keith Chamblin, NTRA COO

2. Contests Offer an Opportunity to Draw Eyes to Your Racetrack's Product
Ted Nicholson, Vice President of Racing, Kentucky Downs

3. Caesars Entertainment Affiliation With the NHC
David Snock, Vice President of Western Operations, William Hill

4. Why All Racetracks Should Consider Hosting Contests
Steve Byk – Host of “At the Races with Steve Byk”

5. Why Hawthorne Participates in the NHC
John Walsh, Assistant General Manager, Hawthorne Race Course

6. Contests from a Players' Perspective
Hal Wafer, NHC Players' Committee Member and NHC Mentor

7. Increasing Potential Prize Money Through Insured Bonuses
John Unick, International Office of America (IOA)

The post New Research, Racetrack Case Studies Highlight Agenda For NTRA-NHC Contest Workshop At Racing Symposium appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The “Beat Byk NHC Challenge” will be conducted over three weeks from Oct. 1-Oct. 13. Byk will pick a horse in each of the remaining 26 'Win and You're In' races held during the time span and leading to the Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 5-6. Listeners will be encouraged to log in to https://www.ntra.com/beatbyk/ where they will either use Byk's selection to win the featured race or try to 'beat Byk' by selecting another horse.

All who correctly select the winning horse in each round will advance to a Nov. 13 NHC online qualifier limited to winning participants from the promotion. Participants may qualify only once during the promotional period. The winner of the “Beat Byk” Online Qualifier in November will represent “At the Races” at the 2022 NHC Jan. 28-30 at Bally's Las Vegas.

NHC Tour membership is required to compete in the November NHC online qualifier. Any participant who “Beats Byk” in any of the weekly contests and is not already a Tour member will be able to join the NHC Tour for a special offer of only $10.00 for the remainder of the 2021 NHC Tour. Those who “Bet with Byk” and win a spot in the NHC online qualifier by picking the winner also will be required to join the Tour ($50 annual membership) to be eligible to win the NHC berth. Tour Membership is good for the remainder of the 2021 calendar year and any 2022 qualifiers for the 2022 NHC. Complete rules for the Beat Byk Challenge can be found at https://www.ntra.com/beatbyk/.

“At the Races with Steve Byk” is Thoroughbred racing's only national daily news and talk show. The show also streams live on www.stevebyk.com.

About the NHC
The National Horseplayers Championship, presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment and Bally's Las Vegas, 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 final. There are no bye-ins to the NHC. Each year, the NHC winner joins other human and equine champions as an honoree at the Eclipse Awards. For more information on the NHC, visit NTRA.com/nhc.

About the NTRA
The NTRA, based in Lexington, Ky., is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 horse racing interests and thousands of individual stakeholders consisting of horseplayers, racetrack operators, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity, welfare and integrity of Thoroughbred racing through consensus-based leadership, legislative advocacy, safety and integrity initiatives, fan engagement and corporate partner development. The NTRA owns and manages the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance; NTRA.com; the Eclipse Awards; the National Horseplayers Championship; NTRA Advantage, a corporate partner sales and sponsorship program; and Horse PAC®, a federal political action committee. NTRA press releases appear on NTRA.com, Twitter (@ntra) and Facebook (facebook.com/1NTRA).

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