LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 16, 2019) – Each week, the NTRA will provide a rundown of those who have qualified for the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) the previous weekend.
The NHC 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 websites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. The 2020 NHC will take place in the Bally’s Events Center from February 7-9.
Friday, April 12
Horseplayers.com $75 Contest
Moore will be playing in her third NHC tournament when the event take place in 2020. She had two entries finish in the top 40 at NHC 2019 and has cashed every entry she has had at the NHC for a total bankroll of $24,150.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EasyStreet98
Howard Blumberg (Baltimore, MD)
Blumberg has qualified for his second NHC having finished within the top 100 during his initial outing in 2017.
Saturday, April 13
HorseTourneys $165 Contest
Ferrozzo, an IT Healthcare Projects Manager, was the 2017 NHC Tour champion and made it to the NHC Final Table in 2015. He is now a 12-time NHC qualifier and has played in the event every year since 2010.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mferrozzo
In addition to his unofficial title as the NHC’s “Best Dressed”, Dresens also owns the distinction of being the 2016 NHC Rookie of the Year. A physician, Dresens had double qualified in each of the previous three times he has been to the NHC (2017, 2018, 2019) and earned that status again for 2020 having previously qualified on February 15 on Horseplayers.com.
Keeneland $400 Spring Challenge
Wyatt Rosette (Tulsa, OK)
This marks Rosette’s second time qualifying for the NHC.
Doug Bredar (Louisville, KY)
A former racing secretary at venues like Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, Louisiana Downs, and Gulfstream Park, Bredar is the agent for jockey Florent Geroux – winner of five Breeders’ Cup races and the regular rider of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner. This is Bredar’s fourth NHC qualification and first since 2015.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/grade1sw
Michael Murphy (Oceanport, NJ)
Murphy is a first-time NHC qualifier.
Shurman is a veteran of the NHC Tour as evidenced by the fact this is his 17th NHC qualification. He was a dual qualifier in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2014, and posted his best effort in 2005 when he finished sixth.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shurmanw
Kasowicz works as a technology manager and will be playing in his fourth NHC in 2020. He was a double qualifier in both 2019 and 2017 and cashed $1,100 in 2017 in the Consolation Contest.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kasowik
Sunday, April 14
Horseplayers.com $165 Contest
Levitt, who works as a physician, will be returning to the NHC for the 11th time. He was a double qualifier in 2019 and 2015 and finished seventh in the 2012 NHC.
Gielow will be playing in the NHC for the first time in 2020.
Keeneland $3,000 Grade One Gamble
Faron McCubbins (Mt. Washington, KY)
McCubbins, who works in the concrete construction industry, previously qualifying for the NHC in 2018 and 2019.
A mortgage banker by day, Slattery will be playing in his fifth NHC tournament next February.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dslats72
Kevin Kerstein (Louisville, KY)
Kerstein serves as the publicity manager for Churchill Downs Racetrack and is a graduate of Bellarmine University. This will be his first NHC Qualification.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HorseRacingKK
Scott was a dual qualifier in 2014 and will be playing in his fifth NHC in 2020.
Brett Kelly (Hobe Sound, FL)
Kelly has qualified for his third NHC and will be playing in the event for the first time since 2012.
Jeff Joffrion (Baton Rogue, LA)
Joffrion previously qualified for NHC 2020 on March 29 on Horseplayers.com. He was also double qualified in 2019 and will be playing in the event for the third time.
Justin Nicholson (Chadds Ford, PA)
Nicholson serves on the NTRA Horse PAC® Board of Directors and is among the founders of Equestricon, the popular horse racing convention, fan festival, and trade show. Nicholson also co-founded Ninety North Racing Stable in 2011 and will be making his second trip to the NHC after placing 152st in 2018.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustinTheNich
Pete Acocella (Great River, NY)
An attorney, Acocella is currently sixth on the NHC Tour Leaderboard and has qualified for his eighth NHC appearance.
James Metzger (Louisville, KY)
Metzger was a double qualifier in 2019 and will be playing in the NHC for the second time in 2020.
A professional handicapper, Gallo serves as a NHC Mentor and Players’ Committee Member. This is his 14th NHC qualification and his best finish came in 2004 when he placed 17th.
This weekend’s NHC Qualifiers:
4/20 – Horseplayers.com $165
4/21 – Horseplayers.com $500