The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) today announced that Racetrack Television Network (RTN) has become a presenting sponsor and marketing partner of the National Handicapping Championship (NHC) and the Eclipse Awards.
Under terms of the multi-year agreement, the NHC will be referred to as the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, presented by Racetrack Television Network, Sovereign Stable and Treasure Island Las Vegas. The 15th NHC will be held January 24-26, 2014.
As part of its NHC partnership, RTN will have a major presence at a number of on-track NHC qualifiers throughout the remainder of 2013 and 2014, where it will be promoting its products and services. RTN also will provide video streams of NHC contest races and special pricing to NHC Tour members for a number of RTN products. Among the RTN offerings is Total Trackcess, the only multi-media platform where customers can view every race from every live simulcast from North American and select international tracks on Dish Network, a personal computer, tablet and mobile device. Total Trackcess features unedited and uninterrupted access to live simulcast feeds from some 75 different racetracks in North America.
RTN also will be an official partner and sponsor of the Eclipse Awards, which will be held Saturday, January 18, 2014 at Gulfstream Park Racetrack and Casino.
“We thank Racetrack Television Network for its support and look forward to promoting its range of products and services to these two distinct and important audiences,” NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop said. “The Eclipse Awards attract a cross section of industry participants during a week long period of festivities honoring our human and equine champions. The NHC and NHC Tour offer a very targeted approach to reach thousands of the world’s best handicappers, who are competing for more than $1.5 million in prize money and an Eclipse Award as the Handicapper of the Year.”
“Racetrack Television Network is delighted to partner with two of the most prestigious events on the Thoroughbred racing calendar – the National Handicapping Championship and the Eclipse Awards – to promote its range of residential products and services targeted to casual racing fans, serious handicappers and industry participants, especially horsemen,” RTN President Todd Roberts said.
RTN (www.rtn.tv) is a subscription-based package that offers live, uninterrupted, full card simulcasts from Thoroughbred, harness, Quarter Horse, and Greyhound racetracks throughout North America and other parts of the world for a monthly subscription fee. Subscription services are available for televisions via DISH Network, and on computers, tablets and mobile devices via the internet.
In its 15th year, the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship is the most important tournament of the year for horseplayers. There are no “buy-in” entries at the NHC. It is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino racebooks, off-track betting facilities and horse racing and handicapping websites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. Each year, the NHC winner joins other human and equine champions as an honoree at the Eclipse Awards. The 14 NHC Champions since the event’s inception, in chronological order, are Steven Walker, Judy Wagner, Herman Miller, Steve Wolfson Jr., Kent Meyer, Jamie Michelson, Ron Rippey, Stanley Bavlish, Richard Goodall, John Conte, Brian Troop, John Doyle, Michael Beychok and Jim Benes.
The 43rd Eclipse Awards, presented by Daily Racing Form, The Stronach Group and Breeders’ Cup, are produced by the NTRA. The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies. The Eclipse Awards are voted upon members of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB), Daily Racing Form and the NTRA.
The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading Thoroughbred racetracks, owners breeders, trainers, horseplayers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on the NTRA website.