LAS VEGAS (Aug. 27, 2021) – Colin Cummings of Brooklyn, New York, and Sean O’Malley of Artesia, California, are the co-leaders after the first day of the 22nd National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment and Bally’s Las Vegas.

Cummings and O’Malley each amassed $165.10 leading a total of 563 entries from 451 individual players in the richest and most prestigious handicapping contest. All players wagered on 17 races from around North America, including seven mandatory races (after one weather cancellation).  

Cummings, a 27-year-old hedge fund and private equity recruiter from Providence, Rhode Island, who resides in Brooklyn, shot to the top of the leaderboard with the 27-1 winner of Woodbine’s sixth race, Told It All.

“To be honest, I’ve probably bet three Woodbine races in my life,” he said. “I recognized the jockey, [Daisuke] Fukimoto, and I just went with him.”

Cummings only started betting horses seriously during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was a longtime sports bettor who increased his overall gambling and spent more time on racing while team sports were on hold. His big Day 1 could have been much bigger. Cummings used an optional wager in the Saratoga finale on 16-1 Pivotal Run, who finished first by a length but was disqualified for bumping in the stretch while looking for racing room. 

“I’m just happy to be here and to have had a good day,” he said. “I’m just going to keep doing what I do. I’m going to get some dinner and go to the Bellagio to play some baccarat.”

O’Malley, a retired merchant marine, also had the 27-1 shot at Woodbine.

“There’s no winning system,” O’Malley said. “I just wing it, ya know? You need to get lucky.”

O’Malley is making his fifth NHC appearance. Last year, he was seventh after Day 1 but ultimately missed the cut on Day 2.

“You got to leave it all behind and forget what’s in the past,” he said.

For the complete TVG Leaderboard and other contest information, please visit NTRA.com.

The three-day NHC continues Saturday at the Bally’s Event Center, which has been transformed into the world’s largest race book. Day 1 bankrolls will carry over to Day 2, which will require mythical wagers on eight mandatory races and 10 optional plays. The top 10 percent of the field after Day 2 will continue on to the Semifinal round Sunday, and the top 10 will play at the DraftKings Final Table to determine the ultimate rankings, including the $725,000 first-place prize, and Eclipse Award winner as Horseplayer of the Year.

This year’s track menu for mandatory and optional races is comprised of Del Mar, Ellis Park, Golden Gate Fields, Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park, Saratoga Race Course, and Woodbine Racetrack. All but Gulfstream and Golden Gate are part of the NHC for the first time.

The National Horseplayers Championship is presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment and Bally’s Las Vegas and sponsored by 1/ST BET, Breeders’ Cup, Capitol OTB, Century Bets, Daily Racing Form, Draft Kings, EquinEdge, FanDuel Group, Four Roses Bourbon, Hawthorne Racecourse, Hialeah Park, HorsePlayers.com, HorseTourneys.com, Keeneland, Monmouth Park, NYRA Bets, Roberts Communications, Santa Anita Park, STATS® Race Lens, The Stronach Group, TVG and Xpressbet.

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