Festivus Contest Winners Rolled The Dice With Hunch Play At Tampa

Like most horse racing handicappers, Steve Tucker and Henry Walthert have faced the question of “how did you pick that horse?” countless times.

After finishing 1-2 in the “10 Days of Festivus Challenge Handicapping Contest,” it's one they don't mind answering.

Even though Tucker was in third place entering Friday's final day of the online contest conducted through Tampa Bay Downs, the high school biology teacher from Hillsborough, N.J., decided a hunch play was too strong to ignore in the fourth race on the turf.

“My college roommate at Rutgers University was named Skip, so I decided to play Skipperini,” Tucker said of the 2-year-old gelding who was 8-1 on the morning line. “Whether you're doing the stock market or playing the horses or gambling on sports, there are so many different angles you can take.”

Walthert, a retired association executive from Ottawa, Canada, had a more logical reason to select Skipperini in the free online contest: He was in 18th place entering the last day and needed to gain lots of ground to finish first or second and collect a cash prize.

“The guys in front of me were probably going to play the favorite, so I wouldn't be able to make a big enough jump otherwise,” he said.

By the time the race started, Skipperini's odds had climbed to 19-1 – the longest shot in the race – and Tucker and Walthert seemed to be grasping at straws. But when Skipperini and jockey Antonio Gallardo rallied for the victory, their two big contest backers collected $63.40 on their mythical $2 across-the-board wagers – enough to defeat more than 1,300 entrants.

At the conclusion of the contest, Tucker sported a bankroll of $247.60 and Walthert stood at $223.20. Tucker took home first-place money of $1,000 and Walthert earned $500. In an interesting twist, Skipperini had won his previous start two weeks earlier, breaking his maiden as a 2-1 favorite.

“It's an exhilarating feeling,” said Tucker, who won $5,000 playing an online handicapping event through Remington Park in Oklahoma several years ago. “I've been following horse racing for 20 years, and to come out on top is really something. It's humbling because there are a lot of people who know more than I do.”

Skipperini wasn't the only hunch horse to help Tucker win. He played Bens Malice on Dec. 10 because his brother's name is Ben, and the 2-year-old gelding won at odds of 27-1 while returning $82 in mythical contest winnings.

Walthert, reached Monday during a ski vacation at Sommet Edelweiss north of Ottawa, was already having a great time playing the contest when Dame Fortune smiled on him Friday.

“It's always a challenge to pick winners, and when you're able to, it's rewarding,” he said. “It makes you look forward to the next race. It's fun to follow along and see how you're doing.”

Walthert's general strategy through the contest was to look for hot jockeys and trainers connected to horses with odds he felt would reap enough profit to climb in the standings.

“I tried not to go with the favorites,” he said.

While Walthert and his wife Monique have visited Tampa Bay Downs, Tucker and wife Diane have not. The Festivus champion says that is likely to change.

“I'm thinking about (retiring) next year, and I have a couple of buddies who are retired in Florida,” Tucker said. “I really hope to get to Tampa Bay Downs. Everyone I've talked to who has been there says it's a beautiful place.”

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Registration Now Open For 2021 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge

Registration for Thoroughbred racing's biggest live-money handicapping tournament ― the 2021 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) ― is now open.

The Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge, now in its 13th year, annually draws the top horseplayers from around North America, and will crown the winner with the highest accumulated bankroll at the end of the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships. This year's Breeders' Cup will be held at Del Mar racetrack in picturesque Del Mar, Calif., on Nov. 5-6.

The 2021 BCBC total cash prize pool is expected to be $1 million based upon a minimum of 400 players registered. Players may participate in the BCBC from Del Mar (host site) and official satellite locations at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., and Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Players can also participate online at TVG.com (the official wagering partner of Breeders' Cup), Xpressbet.com, and NYRA Bets.

To register now and view complete 2021 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge rules and information, go to BreedersCup.com/BCBC.

For the 2021 BCBC, a $2,500 buy-in and $7,500 betting bankroll ($10,000 total) are required of each player. All buy-in monies are applied to the prize pool. Players can bet into the Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, and Daily Double pools with their $7,500 bankroll over the two days and keep all monies earned from their betting.

“With large fields filled with the world's best horses, the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge is the ultimate live-money test for all horseplayers,” said Tim Schram, BCBC Tournament Director. “We are excited to be back at Del Mar this year for the 2021 BCBC, and are once again pleased to join forces with our participating ADW partners in TVG.com, Xpressbet.com, and NYRA Bets, and our satellite location tracks at Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park, and Santa Anita Park.”

Horseplayers can still earn free entry into the BCBC by winning a Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge Qualifying contest. For details on upcoming live qualifying contests visit BreedersCup.com/BCBC and for online qualifying contests visit Horseplayers.com.

In 2020, 430 individuals competed in the BCBC. Marshall Gramm of Memphis, Tenn., won the tournament hitting a cold exacta of Authentic and Improbable in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), which earned him 170,250 points. Combined with his first-place prize of $322,500, Gramm had total winnings of $492,750.

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Registration Now Open For 2020 Online Edition Of The Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge

Continuing to draw top horseplayers from around North America for Thoroughbred racing's biggest live-money tournament, registration is now open for the 2020 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC).

Now in its 12th year, the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge will crown the winner with the highest accumulated bankroll at the end of the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held this year at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 6-7.

This year's BCBC total cash prize pool is expected to be $1 million based upon a minimum of 400 players registered.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, players will not be able to participate at Keeneland this year. All BCBC tournament play will be conducted online at TVG.com, the official Breeders' Cup wagering partner, Xpressbet.com, NYRA Bets and at designated satellite locations at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., and Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. Additional satellite locations, such as Santa Anita Park and Del Mar in California, will be announced at a later date if they are able to host players.

To register now and to view complete 2020 BCBC rules and information, go to BreedersCup.com/BCBC.

For the 2020 BCBC, a $2,500 buy-in and $7,500 betting bankroll ($10,000 total) are required of each player. All buy-in monies are applied to the prize pool. Players can bet into the Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta and Daily Double pools with their $7,500 bankroll over the two days and keep all monies earned from their betting.

“The excitement and prestige of playing in the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge continues to grow as the ultimate test in live-money Thoroughbred racing tournaments, with horseplayers tackling the large and ultra-competitive fields of the World Championships races,” said Tim Schram, BCBC Tournament Director. “As a bonus, we encourage players of all levels to sign up and play in our online BCBC qualifying tournaments on HorsePlayers.com from now until late October to earn a free entry into the BCBC on Nov. 6-7.”

An exciting feature of the 2020 BCBC is the $3 million National Horseplayer Champion (NHC) Tour bonus that will be awarded to any horseplayer who wins the BCBC and the NTRA Horseplayers Championship (NHC) in January 2021. As part of a reciprocal agreement with the NHC, Thomas Goldsmith, winner of this year's NHC in February, is eligible for a $3 million bonus should he win this year's BCBC.

Players can earn free entry into the BCBC by winning a BCBC Qualifying Tournament. For details on upcoming live and online qualifying tournaments, go to Horseplayers.com.

In the 2019 BCBC, a record 457 players entered the competition and Brad Anderson of Sarasota, Fla., finished on top. Anderson made a $25,900 wager on 9-2 Vino Rosso in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, the final race of the tournament, which vaulted him to victory. Anderson finished with a total score of 145,040 points and, with a first-place prize of $343,000, saw total winnings of $488,040.

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‘Tough Decision’: 2020 World Harness Handicapping Championship Cancelled

Due to the COVID-19 virus and the uncertainty many players had about traveling to the Meadowlands Racetrack, the 2020 World Harness Handicapping Championship presented by DerbyWars.com has been cancelled.

Players that qualified for a seat through the Meadowlands or DerbyWars.com will be refunded the $1,300 tournament seat as a prize payout. Players can also choose to have their qualifying seat held for the 2021 contest.

“This was a tough decision for us,” said Rachel Ryan, Marketing Manager for the Meadowlands Racetrack. “With so many unknowns remaining for the Meadowlands regarding permitted onsite attendance and COVID protocols we (along with DerbyWars) made the call to cancel for this year. We want all players to feel comfortable traveling to the track and safe while onsite wagering. Not holding the WHHC this year was our best option.”

DerbyWars has announced a $25,000 online game with an estimated $10,000 first prize for Meadowlands Pace Night on Saturday, July 18. Players can qualify every week on DerbyWars.com.

The WHHC will return in 2021 and updates can be found at http://www.meadowlandsracetrack.com/contest_detail.aspx?id=8240

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