The Thoroughbred Idea Foundation will launch next week its third annual BetMakers Summer Prop Contest to benefit racing charities. At least $25,000 will be distributed overall across three, 501 (c)(3) charities – the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
Free for all to enter, the 2021 edition of the contest is sponsored by BetMakers Technology Group, the Australian-based wagering solutions provider best known in America as the contracted facilitator of fixed odds betting for New Jersey customers. BetMakers signed a 10-year deal with the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and Monmouth Park operator Darby Development to manage and distribute fixed odds.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is expected to sign the legislation permitting fixed odds betting on racing shortly. Fixed odds betting will be available on select American and international races.
The contest will begin with props fashioned around next week's Haskell card and the big races opening weekend at Saratoga.
Each week of the eight-week contest, participants face 12 questions and a tiebreaker which are presented in the form of prop-style bets. A participant's best four scores over the course of the contest will accumulate towards the overall standings. The top three finishers in each week of the contest will direct $2,000 across the three charities ($1,000 – first, $600 – second, $400 – third) while the contestants with the top three highest accumulated scores at the end of the contest will direct an additional $9,000 ($5,000 – first, $3,000 – second, $1,000 – third).
Last year, Matt Miller of Northbrook, Illinois won the 2nd Summer Prop Contest on a tiebreaker after a weeks-long battle with Doug Slayton. In 2019, long-time racing official and horseplayer Rick Hammerle won the inaugural contest.
TIF believes that wagering on American racing must evolve to include fixed odds wagers, presenting customers with modern wagering options to complement pari-mutuel betting.
“The recent legalization of fixed odds betting for New Jersey customers is a great first step to help present existing customers with more options and to reach new customers to racing through New Jersey's popular sports betting platforms,” said TIF Executive Director Patrick Cummings.
“The BetMakers Summer Prop Contest seeks to introduce existing racing fans to the potential of a future with more wagering options while raising awareness to incredibly important industry charities. American racing's obligations are greater than ever while the sport's business has waned. We must seek every possible measure to grow racing's proverbial pie and meet these obligations.”
Contest players can enter each week at RacingThinkTank.com or through links posted by TIF's Twitter account @RacingIdeas.
Contest Dates (Key Races)
Week 1 – July 17 (Haskell – Monmouth Park, Diana – Saratoga)
Week 2 – July 24 (Coaching Club American Oaks – Saratoga)
Week 3 – July 31 (Vanderbilt / Jim Dandy – Saratoga, Bing Crosby – Del Mar)
Week 4 – August 7 (Whitney – Saratoga)
Week 5 – August 14 (Mister D – Arlington, Fourstardave – Saratoga)
Week 6 – August 21 (Pacific Classic – Del Mar, Alabama – Saratoga)
Week 7 – August 28 (Travers – Saratoga)
Week 8 – September 4 (Jockey Club Gold Cup / Flower Bowl – Saratoga)
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