NHC Players Committee

Hometown: Kennewick, WA

Tournament Experience: Member of NHC Hall of Fame

Fun fact: I played a small role in helping to successfully Lobby the US Treasury to make a change in tax regulations that eliminated the requirements for withholding and reporting for almost all winning horse racing wagers in the US.

Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Tournament Experience: I have been a tournament player for about 25 years and have played in numerous states including California, Kentucky, Florida, Arizona , Nevada and South Dakota.

Fun fact: I qualified in one of the NHC free contests while being on a flight from Chicago to California. I put all my picks in on Friday night (not knowing track conditions, scratches, on/off turf, etc.). When the plane landed, my phone lit up like a Christmas tree! I figured either someone died or I had gotten lucky in the tournament. Fortunately, it was the latter—I finished in the top 5 out of about 2,000 entries.

Email: dennisdecauwer@gmail.com

Hometown: Frederick, MD

Tournament Experience: 2007 NHC Champion, 2022 Hall of Fame Inductee

Fun fact: Subway owner

Hometown: Hot Springs, AR

Tournament Experience: 20+ years of tournament experience.

Fun fact: Loves photography and birding.

Email: Brantleyal@gmail.com

Hometown: Jupiter, FL

Tournament Experience: 12-time NHC qualifier

Fun fact: Comes from a family of tournament players, including his late brother, Randy who finished in Top 10 at the 2019 NHC.

Hometown: Port Jefferson Station, NY

Tournament Experience: Qualified 18 times.  Finished in the top 10 at the NHC twice.  Won several major tournaments, including Keeneland, Ellis Park, Turfway Park and the Dog Days of Summer at Canterbury Park.

Fun fact: I was voted into the All Star game for a New York stickball league as a teenager.

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Tournament Experience: I have been playing in tournaments since 2004.  First NHC experience was in 2009 at the Red Rock Resort.  7-time NHC qualifier.  First Place Winner of $22,165 and NHC player spot (and the first and only female to win) the First Chance/Last Chance Tournament.

Fun fact: Years ago I was a “Mom-ager” before Kris Kardashian coined the term.  My daughter Kristy was a child actress who appeared in several roles including the TV show “Dallas” and the movie “Problem Child” with John Ritter.

Email: ellenpatrick7732@gmail.com

Hometown: Brightwaters, NY

Tournament Experience: 18-time NHC Qualifier

Fun fact: Appeared in an SNY Documentary about the 1986 Mets called “Simply Amazin” and broadcast a sports talk radio report called “Mitch on the Mets” from 2006 to 2013.

Email: crmdefense@aol.com

Hometown: Dix Hills, NY

Tournament Experience: 20+ years of tournament experience.

Fun fact: In 2011 he won the second NHC Tour earning $75,000. After winning Tour in 2011,  Paul finished sixth place finish in 2012 NHC and was the closest any Tour winner has come to winning the NHC and the $1 million bonus.

Email: herlman@aol.com

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Tournament Experience: 6-time NHC Qualifier, finished 5th at the 2011 NHC.

Hometown: Whitesboro, NY

Tournament Experience: 10+ years of tournament experience including 3rd place finish in BCBC (2014), 4th at The Battle of Saratoga Handicapping Challenge, 20th at NHC IX, 3rd at The Southwest Shootout at Sunland Park.

Fun fact: I’m the first legal bookmaker in the history of New York State as I created and opened the first sports book in the state at Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, NY. Which also was the number one sports book in the state for revenue.

Email: halwafer@hotmail.com

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Tournament Experience: Started playing contests in the Spring of 2000, NHC Champion 2001

Fun fact: Horseplayer representative on the NTRA Board of Directors.

Playing in tournaments has opened many doors for friendship across all walks of life. Tournaments, whether online or in person, are like a gathering of friends/players that all speak your language…….”horse talk”.  Young or old, handicapping is a lifetime of learning! Being involved with NTRA and Tour membership, one of my greatest satisfactions was getting to play a cheerleader role on NTRA’s successful work for modernization of taxation issues for players.

Email: judywagner391@gmail.com

Hometown: Leominster, MA

Tournament Experience: 20+ years of tournament experience, top scores include top placings at Wynn Las Vegas (1st), Hawthorne (1st), Breeders Cup Betting Challenge (2nd), Belmont Stakes (2nd), Keeneland (multiple top 10 finishes), etc.  I have had tournament success in all formats (in-person, online, live money, mythical).  16 time NHC qualifier.

Fun fact: I have been a college professor for 25 years and coached a national championship team in collegiate moot court.

Email: pweizer@aol.com