LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 24, 2021) ― Each week, the NTRA will provide a rundown of those who have qualified for the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) the previous weekend. Led by 2021 NHC Tour leader Jay Johns, who is now double-qualified for both the 2021 and 2022 NHC, six players qualified for next year’s HNC last weekend on Horseplayers.com and at the Xpressbet Closing Day Santa Anita tournament.
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 2021 NHC is slated take place in the Bally’s Events Center from Aug. 27-29 with the 2022 NHC set for Jan. 28-30 at Bally’s.
Last weekend’s qualifiers, and their respective contest sites, are as follows:
Horseplayers Friday, 6/18/2021
Michael Caposio of Temecula, CA, has qualified for his sixth NHC. He finished 10th in 2017 and cashed for $50,000. Caposio, who grew up in New York going to the races at Aqueduct and Belmont Park with his father, relishes the chance each time to play in the Championships.
“The NHC is the highlight of the year,” said Caposio. “I love the atmosphere. It’s alive with hundreds of the best players from everywhere. It’s a competition like no other, and it’s so demanding of us that even when we don’t get the results we want personally we are always supportive of the players that make the cut ― or if you’re really on your game ― make the final table. It’s incredible because all of us as players believe we know how difficult it is to achieve. I made the final table a few years back and it was the most unbelievable experience ever. I love the friends and relationships that I have today with players that I met while playing NHC.”
Scott Cavalieri of Attleboro, MA, has qualified for his fourth NHC.
Horseplayers Sunday, June 20
George Bosch of Brooklyn, NY, has qualified for his seventh NHC.
Jay Johns of Meridian, ID, who leads the NHC 2021 NHC Tour, has double qualified for both the 2021 and 2022 Championship. Commenting on his 2021 Tour success, Johns said: “During the pandemic nobody was taking weekend trips or going to movies or concerts, so I researched and tried some different techniques. Now I have some particular angles I’m specifically looking for and can handicap a full contest of races in about five minutes. That gives me more time to play more contests and based on my results, at a higher level. I’ve now qualified eight years and with this past weekend’s second entry in the 2021 contest, I’m dual qualified for 2021 and 2022 and have had 11 entries to date. But I haven’t had any success in Vegas yet. Maybe with my new approach that will change this year or next with my four entries.”
Johns also recalled how he got interested in racing: “When I was in sixth grade, we went with my Mother’s friends to Ellis Park for a Friday night entertainment evening, because their son in law was the track announcer. We got to go up where he called races and see them determine photo finishes. I thought it was so cool. But I didn’t go back to a live track again until Lone Star Park opened in Texas in the late 90’s I believe. My first NHC qualifier contest win was in fact at live at Lone Star Park in 2004 for a slot in the 2005 NHC.”
XpressBet Santa Anita Closing Day Tournament
Brian Chenvert
Hometown: Rogers, MN
Brian Chenvert of Rogers, MN is now double-qualified for the 2022 NHC. He has qualified 12 times for the Championship.
Robert Talstra
Profile: Robert Talstra of Huntington Beach, CA, has qualified for his second NHC.