Close to 700 handicappers will compete for a record prize pool of $2.95 million when the 21st annual National Horseplayers' Championship (NHC) gets underway Friday at Bally's Las Vegas casino,having previously been held at the Treasure Island. The three-day event, which brings together qualifiers from a variety of tournaments from coast-to-coast, offers a top prize of $800,000 and the title of Horseplayer of the Year. Including complimentary travel and hotel accommodations, cash and awards total $3.8 million.
“The NHC is a true celebration of the horseplayer–the individuals who fuel every aspect of the sport and business of Thoroughbred racing,” said NTRA Chief Operating Officer and NHC Tournament Director, Keith Chamblin. “We thank the many organizations who hosted NHC qualifiers throughout 2019 as well as our presenting sponsors and partners.”
The field, which has an estimated 556 players (there are 119 dual-qualifiers), includes 148 first-time contestants, or nearly a quarter of the field. The NHC field will be cut to the top 10% of the players following Saturday's second day of the competition and the highest 10 scores after the semi-final round will move on to the Draft Kings final table. All winnings from the first two days will roll over into the final round, with a set of seven mandatory races Sunday to determine the champion. Those who do not make the semi-finals will compete for $50,000 in a consolation tournament Sunday morning and afternoon.
The NHC format requires handicappers to place mythical $2 win/place bets to amass the highest possible bankroll across eight mandatory races on days one and two and on seven races at the final table. The remaining 10 races on the first two days of the competition and all 10 races in the semi-final round are optional races at one of eight designated tracks, including Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, Golden Gate, Gulfstream, Laurel, Oaklawn, Santa Anita and Tampa.
Scott Coles, who became the youngest winner of the NHC at age 34 in 2019 with a bankroll of $367, is back to defend his title. Some 10 previous winners are also in the field. As the winner of the 2019 NHC Tour, David Snyder won $110,000 and an NHC berth. He also is eligible for a $5-million bonus if he goes on to win at the 2020 NHC finals. Brad Anderson, the winner of the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC), is eligible for a $3 million BCBC/NHC Bonus if he takes down the NHC title.
Former TDN staffer Steve DeCaspers is set to compete in his fifth NHC, having finished 'in the money' (36th–read more here–and 46th) in two of his four previous tries.
“The NHC is three days of horseplayer heaven,” DeCaspers said. “Good friends, great competition and, of course, the chance at a life-altering score. The sentiment around my tables is that the NTRA made the right move with the switch to Bally's. The ballroom is a big step up from previous years.”
A real-time scoreboard can be viewed here.
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