
December 2022
Welcome back to the December edition of the NHC at the Post, your monthly update on all the happenings of the National Horseplayers Championship Tour and more.

Contests were kicked into high gear in November, starting with the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (more to come on that in the next article). Running at the same time as the BCBC was the Sport of Kings Finals. The Sport of Kings hosted monthly free qualifying events leading to the Breeders’ Cup weekend finals. More than 1,400 tour members participated but only two players topped the field and won NHC prize packages – John Orrechio and Dan Smith. The Sport of Kings does an excellent job living up to its mission of cultivating new horseplayers and actively engaging current ones. They will be back in February 2023 to host their next qualifying event that is free for NHC Tour members.
Thanksgiving weekend was full of more than just turkey, with contests across the country and online. The legendary 3-day Hawthorne Thanksgiving contest awarded 10 seats to the NHC. Friday kicked off with 163 entries that awarded 2 NHC seats to Justin Mustari (2021 NHC Champ) and Jeff Mustari. Justin’s win came along with a $1 million bonus opportunity if he were to win NHC 2023. Saturday saw 157 entries, with Jordan Jayne winning that contest and the chance to win a $1 million bonus if he were to win NHC 2023. Jim Benes (2013 NHC Champ), Justin Waitekus, and Pat Stich also won NHC seats on Saturday. Day 3 had 125 entries. Matt Miller, the 2021 BCBC Champion, won the contest and the $1 million bonus opportunity, however, he already had 2 NHC entries so the NHC seats were awarded to the 2nd through 5th finishers: Rockwood Edwards, Joseph Paladino, Bryan Doranski, and Mark Odorisio. That same weekend in sunny southern California, the Del Mar Fall challenge had 115 entries. NHC prize packages were awarded to Ryan Flanders and Danny Wolf.
Online participants stuffed themselves full of 21 NHC berths this month. Horseplayers.com hosted contests every weekend and awarded 19 NHC seats. On November 4 on Horseplayers.com, Hall of Fame member and past NHC Tour Champion, Sally Goodall earned her second 2023 entry. Other Horseplayers.com NHC winners were Xiang Guo, Mark Simonovic, Bob Gianquitti, Spencer Multack, Sarah Wiener, Basil Devito, Wendy Long, Tammy Johns, Robert Moore, Jerry McClenin, Nick Yerton, Dino Herrera, Joe Hyerczyk, John Farrar, Carm Adimando, Steven Hartshorn, Patrick Kennedy, Cheryl McIntyre (past NHC Tour Champion). Horsetourneys.com awarded 2 NHC seats to Eric Archer and George Novick.

Basil Devito

John Farrar

Eric Archer

Justin Mustari

Jim Benes

Jordan Jayne

Pat Stich

Ryan Flanders
