The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced that three players, who had five entries at the 2023 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), have been suspended from the NHC and NHC Tour for a period of two years.
The suspension was issued following discussions and input from the NHC Auditing Committee and the NHC Players' Committee, a group of NHC players who act as a sounding board on NHC policy and rule matters.
The NTRA did not name the players involved.
The suspension covers the 2023 and 2024 NHC Tour seasons and the 2024 and 2025 NHCs. At the end of the two-year suspension, the players may request to the NTRA to be reinstated to the NHC Tour. At that time, the Players' Committee will reconvene for further deliberation.
“Protecting the integrity of the NHC against wrongdoing is the highest priority for the NTRA. This includes collusion to gain an unfair advantage over the rest of the field,” said NTRA president and CEO Tom Rooney.
The NTRA publishes each player's selections on its website following the conclusion of the NHC. In this instance, an individual brought an allegation of collusion to the attention of NHC auditors after reviewing the players' selections on the NTRA's website. The NTRA investigated and corroborated the claim.
The NTRA will continue to advance protocols and auditing procedures to ensure a fair and level playing field for the thousands of horseplayers who comprise the NHC Tour and compete at the world's most prestigious handicapping contest.
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