Top Four Finishers Receive Berths in 2015 NHC, Five Stakes Races Part of Contest

NEW YORK CITY (Friday, March 21, 2014) – Contest play is now open for the year’s first free “$33,800 NHC Online Challenge,” which will be held Saturday. The contest will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET. To register, visit http://games.ntra.com.

The top four finishers in Saturday’s free online tournament will receive berths in the $2 million-estimated Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, Presented by Racetrack Television Network, Sovereign Stable and Treasure Island Las Vegas (NHC) in January 2015. The four qualifiers also will receive roundtrip air travel (up to $400) and four nights of hotel accommodations for their trip to NHC 16. The total value of the NHC spots and travel is approximately $33,800.

Saturday’s “NHC Online Challenge” is the first of five free NHC online tournaments to be held this year. In all, a total of 20 seats to the NHC will be awarded to NHC Tour members qualifying in these free tournaments. Membership ($50) in the 2014 NHC Tour is mandatory to participate in the online tournaments. To sign up for the NHC Tour, visit www.ntra.com/nhctour.

Saturday’s “NHC Online Challenge” requires contestants to place mythical $2 win and place wagers on 10 designated contest races. The 10 contest races features racing from Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park, Oaklawn Park, Santa Anita Park and Turfway Park. Included among the menu of races are five stakes events: the Grade II Inside Information Stakes from Gulfstream Park; the Grade III Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Racing Spiral Stakes, Grade III Pure Romance Bourbonette Oaks and the Hansen Starter Handicap from Turfway Park; and the Gazebo Stakes from Oaklawn Park. Free DRF past performances for the tournament races are available at the contest site.

All selections must be made no later than one minute prior to the scheduled post time of each mandatory race. The four players amassing the highest number of points based on the players’ earnings (i.e. the highest final bankroll) from all mythical $2 win and place wagers at the end of the competition will receive berths in the January 2015 NHC in Las Vegas, provided that they have a paid membership for the 2014 NHC Tour prior to the start of the tournament.

The NHC Tour is a yearlong bonus series offering additional prize money and qualifying berths to the NHC Final in Las Vegas. NHC Tour benefits include:

  • $200,000 in prize money to Tour point leaders;
  • Special offers and discounts from Daily Racing Form, Racetrack Television Network and other NHC sponsors;
  • Eligibility to participate in free online tourneys offering 20 seats to the 2015 NHC;
  • Individuals finishing among the top 150 points leaders on the year-end NHC Tour Leader Board who have not already qualified to the 2015 NHC at an on-site or online NTRA-sanctioned tournament, will automatically qualify for the 2015 NHC;
  • Season-ending points leader will be eligible for a $2 million bonus should he or she win the January 2015 NHC;
  • Weekly e-newsletter featuring player profiles, recaps of previously held tourneys, schedules and links to upcoming tournaments, etc.; and
  • Eligibility to receive benefits and discounts from NTRA Advantage partners.

For more information about the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, visit www.ntra.com. For further information or questions about the Saturday, March 22 tournament, contact Michele Ravencraft of the NTRA at (859) 422-2657 or via e-mail at mravencraft@ntra.com.

In its 16th year, the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, Presented by Racetrack Television Network, Sovereign Stable and Treasure Island Las Vegas is the most important tournament of the year for horseplayers. There are no “buy-in” entries at the NHC. It is the culmination of a yearlong series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino racebooks, off-track betting facilities and horse racing and handicapping websites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. Every year, the NHC winner joins other human and equine champions as an honoree at the Eclipse Awards. The 15 NHC Champions since the event’s inception, in chronological order, are Steven Walker, Judy Wagner, Herman Miller, Steve Wolfson Jr., Kent Meyer, Jamie Michelson, Ron Rippey, Stanley Bavlish, Richard Goodall, John Conte, Brian Troop, John Doyle, Michael Beychok, Jim Benes and Jose Arias.

About the NTRA

The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of more than 80 horse racing interests consisting of leading Thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers, horseplayers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on NTRA.com, Twitter (@ntra) and Facebook (facebook.com/1NTRA).