LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 7, 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 26
HorsePlayers – $75
Kurzhal is now double qualified and will be making his fifth NHC appearance and first visit to the tournament since 2012. His first qualification this season came on March 1 during another $75 on Horseplayers.com.
Vogel qualified for the NHC for the first time in 2019 and came to that event as a double qualifier. He cashed $1,250 in the 2019 Consolation Bracket.
Saturday, April 27
Santa Anita Super Qualifier
Henry is now a 13-time NHC qualifier who placed 65th at this year’s tournament and cashed $4,200. Henry was a dual qualifier in 2019, 2018, 2016 and 2014.
Wiener, currently 43rd on the NHC Tour, earned his tenth qualification to the NHC. He cashed $10,480 at NHC in 2015 by placing 44th.
Lozano has earned his second NHC qualification.
Bogdanoff will be making his second NHC appearance having first qualifying in 2013.
NHC 2020 will mark the second appearance for Bourke in the tournament with his initial trip coming in 2018.
Alan Hoffman (San Gabriel, CA)
NHC veteran Hoffman is now a nine-time qualifier and cashed for $3,000 in 2011 after placing 18th.
Ramirez is a first-time NHC qualifier and is now in contention for Rookie Tour Prize money.
Gabbay is now a four-time NHC qualifier who cashed for $20,000 at the 2014 tournament.
HorseTourneys – $165
David Barnier (San Diego, CA) –
Barnier will be participating in his first NHC tournament and is double qualified for the 2020 event. His first qualification came on March 16.
Thomas Blosser (Cornville, AZ)
Blosser has qualified for his 11th NHC and was double qualified in 2018, 2016, 2015, and 2014.
Sunday, April 28
HorsePlayers – $165
This will be Callaghan’s first NHC qualification and he is now in contention for Rookie Tour Prize money.
Wilgard will be making his first NHC appearance when the event comes to Bally’s in 2020.
Lone Star Steve Sexton
Broberg, the leading owner in the country by wins in 2018, 2017 and 2016 under his nom de course End Zone Athletics, has qualified for his first NHC appearance.
Twitter: @karlbroberg
Roach will be making his first NHC appearance.
Scanio has been to every NHC since 2006 and is now a 15-time NHC Qualifier. Scanio was a double qualified in 2019, 2018, and 2014 and posted his best effort at the 2015 NHC when he finished sixth. He has cashed for $83,020 at NHC events.
Peter Copeland (Weatherford, TX)
Copeland is a first-time NHC qualifier.
Childress will be making his third trip to the NHC.
Witt, currently ranked 30th on the NHC Tour, will be making his ninth NHC appearance. He cashed for $1,100 in 2009 after a 24th place finish.
Sunday, May 5
HorsePlayers.com – $75
Sean Taber (Fruita, CO)
Taber is a first-time NHC qualifier. He qualified playing in his first NHC contest of 2019.
Seeman is currently ranked 25th on tour and will be making his 12th trip to the NHC. He was double qualified in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2014 and has cashed five times at the NHC for $55,550.
Click here for upcoming NHC qualifiers