Remembering Jose Arias

One of the most accomplished horseplayers in the history of the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) and NHC qualifying contest play, Jose Arias captured the 2014 NHC after a remarkable stretch that saw him record the highest two- day total in NHC history. Arias had two top 10 finishes, coming within a whisker of becoming the first two-time Champion of the event before settling for second place at the 2021 NHC. He was a highly skilled horseplayer with more than nearly one million dollars in NHC career earnings and career earnings of well over one million dollars in overall contest play.

Horseplayers are a wonderful group of people. I see a lot of those same people at Santa Anita and going around to different tournaments. It was wonderful getting that support, having people text me “get ready,” or “you can do it.” It was a very memorable experience feeling all the love and support from everybody there (at the 2014 NHC). When they started chanting my name after I won – that was the cherry on top. It was very emotional. I felt all this gratitude. – Jose Arias

Career Highlights:

Nine-Time Qualifier to National Horseplayers Championship (NHC):

2010
2011
2012
2014 – NHC Champion and Participant at First NHC Final Table (earning $756,000)
2015 – Honored at the 2015 Eclipse Awards as 2014 National Horseplayer of the Year
2016 – Double Qualified
2017
2018 – Double Qualified
2021 – Finished 2^nd at NHC (earning $200,000)