LEXINGTON, Ky. (Thursday, March 3, 2016) – The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) today announced the dates for next year’s renewals of its marquee events, with the 46th Annual Eclipse Awards set for Jan. 21 at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach, Fla., followed the next weekend by the National Handicapping Championship, returning to a Friday-Sunday format, Jan. 27-29, at Treasure Island Las Vegas.

The Eclipse Awards – bestowed upon horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements in North America have earned them the title of Champion in 17 categories – will be hosted at Gulfstream Park for the fifth consecutive year.

Now in its 18th season, the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, presented by Racetrack Television Network and Treasure Island Las Vegas, is the world’s richest and most prestigious handicapping contest. The NHC returns to Treasure Island for a fifth straight year with the three-day tournament opening Friday, Jan. 27, 2017.

NHC 17 earlier this year offered a purse of more than $2.75 million with the winner earning $800,000 and an Eclipse Award as Horseplayer of the Year.

The Eclipse Awards and the NHC are owned, operated and produced by the NTRA.

“Practically everyone associated with Thoroughbred racing aspires to one day either win an Eclipse Award or earn the ‘Horseplayer of the Year’ title, if not both,” said NTRA President Alex Waldrop. “Whether you make it to our big events as a finalist, a player, or a guest, the NTRA looks forward to hosting you next January.”

About The Eclipse Awards

The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies. The Eclipse Awards are bestowed upon horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements in North America have earned them the title of Champion in their respective categories. Those awards are voted by NTRA, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB). Eclipse Awards also are given to the Horseplayer of the Year and to members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing.

About the NHC

In its 18th year, the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship is the most important tournament of the year for horseplayers and is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino race books, off-track betting facilities and horse racing and handicapping Web sites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. Each year, the NHC winner joins other human and equine champions as an honoree at the Eclipse Awards. In addition to the founding title sponsor, the NHC is presented by host casino Treasure Island Las Vegas.