LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 29, 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, May 24
HorsePlayers.com – $75
Thomas Bryan, retired from Amtrak as a locomotive engineer and the Army, hailing from California City, CA will make his first return to the NHC since 2015.
David Snyder, a Technology Executive from Mission Viejo, CA, and currently 15th on the NHC Leaderboard, earned his second NHC seat for 2020 on Friday. He earned his first NHC Seat on March 29 during a $75 contest as well. This will be Snyder’s tenth trip to the NHC and he was double qualified in 2019, 2016, and 2014. He’s cashed twice for $7,300.
Saturday, May 25
HorseTourneys – $165: First-ever all optional NHC Online Qualifier
George Bosch, a Brooklyn NY resident, will be making his fifth trip to the NHC in 2020. He was double qualified in 2019.
Mike Yarusso, a longtime NHC Tour member from Eagan, MN will return to NHC2020. Yarusso, along with his daughter, Cara, are familiar faces at the NHC. This mark’s Yarusso’s fifth NHC qualification.
Santa Anita Gold Cup – $500
Dan Kaplan, will not have to travel far to get to the NHC. The retired Las Vegas resident will make his tenth NHC appearance. He previously won the 2016 Horseplayer World Series.
Len Hanson, a wealth advisor from Redondo Beach, CA punched his ticket to NHC2020 at the Santa Anita Gold Cup. This will be his fifth consecutive NHC appearance. Hanson previously won the 2015 Cal Racing’s (Best handicapper in California) Contest. Cal Racing has not held the contest since then, so technically he is the reigning “Best Handicapper in California.”
Monday, May 26
HorsePlayers.com – $125
Joseph Rumfolo, from Willis, TX not only won the first contest of the Racetrack Television Network $10,000 Summer Challenge, he also won his first entry ever to the NHC.
Robert Pennell, a Rookie NHC Tour member from Seekonk, MA also earned valuable points in the RTN $10,000 Summer Challenge as well as his first seat to the NHC. Pennell is in contention for his share of $10,000 from the Summer Challenge as well as $15,000 in Rookie Leaderboard prize money.
Ernest Powers III, from North Reading, MA, will be joining his father – a veteran NHC participant – for the first time at next year’s NHC. Powers was the third seat awarded in the two-entry guaranteed contest that attracted 258 entries, which was enough to award a third NHC entry.
Click here to view the 2019 NHC Tour Leaderboard Unofficial Standings.
NHC Tour Free Contest Saturday, June 1. Click here to play!
Click here for upcoming NHC qualifiers