NHC

Joseph (Kevin) Costello, a 53-year-old executive from Chicago, IL, rode the strength of four victories and 14 top 10 finishes in handicapping contests to run away with the 2021 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour title. Costello, who has qualified to the NHC each year since 2016, earned $75,000 for winning the NHC Tour and is eligible for a $5-million bonus if he captures the 2022 NHC Jan. 28-30 at Bally's Las Vegas. "I always wanted to have the knowledge that I'm consistently good and that's what the Tour does," said...

Justin Mustari, a 26-year-old horseplayer from Des Plaines, Ill., won the 2021 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment, and Bally's Las Vegas. Mustari became the youngest winner in 22 editions of the NHC. He competed against a field of 563 entries over the three-day tournament from Aug. 27-29, winning the $725,000 first-place prize and an Eclipse Award as Horseplayer of the Year. He also earns an exemption into next year's NHC finals and a berth to the 2021 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge worth $10,000. Mustari's...

The 22nd Annual National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) will have 25 official partners and sponsors. Held Aug. 27-29 at Bally's Las Vegas, the NHC will be presented by Racetrack Television Network (RTN), Caesars Entertainment, and Bally's Las Vegas with another 22 entities named as official partners. The NHC is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments and features approximately 450 horseplayers competing for more than $2 million in cash prizes.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will be on-site to promote aftercare awareness at the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Aug. 27-29 at Bally's Las Vegas. Horseplayers will be able to connect with TAA representatives, learn more about accredited Thoroughbred aftercare, enter drawings for select racing experiences, take home racing memorabilia, and donate to the TAA. "We are delighted to once again partner with the TAA to raise awareness and funds for Thoroughbred aftercare at this year's NHC," said NTRA COO Keith Chamblin. "Many horseplayers competing at the national championship look...

A total of seven North American tracks have been selected for the 2021 NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), to be held Aug. 27-29. All mandatory and optional races will be from Del Mar, Ellis Park, Golden Gate Fields, Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park, Saratoga Race Course, or Woodbine Racetrack. The NHC is the world's richest and most prestigious handicapping tournament. "The menu of racetracks represents the best possible mix of quality racing and geographical diversity," said NTRA COO and NHC tournament director Keith Chamblin. "Del Mar and Saratoga, which on Saturday,...

With the National Horseplayers Championship postponed from its traditional February dates due to COVID-19 and re-scheduled for August, the NTRA today announced that a Last Chance/First Chance qualifier has been added to the calendar Feb. 13. The contest will provide an opportunity for players to qualify to either the Aug. 27-29, 2021 NHC or the Jan. 28-30, 2022 NHC. The Last Chance/First Chance qualifier will be held on HorsePlayers.com, and the entry fee will be $500. Two NHC seats will be guaranteed to NHC 2021 plus travel and hotel accommodations....

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has rescheduled the upcoming 2021 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), originally slated for Feb. 12-14, to Aug. 27-29 due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. The NHC, a culmination of a year-long series of tournaments of which the winner is honored at the Eclipse Awards, will be held at Bally's Las Vegas. "With the support of our partners at Bally's and Caesars Entertainment, we have secured dates that provide us with a great opportunity to host a world-class event in the safest possible environment for...

Steve Byk, whose Sirius XM radio magazine 'At the Races With Steve Byk' airs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET daily, is once again teaming with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) for the 'Beat Byk NHC Challenge,' offering a seat at the 2021 National Horseplayers' Championship. Running from July 18 through Sept. 6, Byk will select one horse in one stakes race each Saturday and Sunday and players can bet with or against the host. Any player who correctly selects the winning horse in each round advances to...

The second NHC Tour $10,000 Summer Challenge, a bonus challenge that rewards participants who accumulate the most NHC Tour points on HorsePlayers.com over a three-month period, will kick off Friday, May 29. The NHC Summer Challenge will consist of 40 direct qualifiers into the 2021 $3-million estimated National Horseplayers Championship as well as low-priced feeders starting at $15. The top finisher in the Challenge will win $4,000, with second through fifth-place dividing the remaining prize pool (2nd-$2,500; 3rd-$2,000; 4th-$1,000; and 5th-$500). There will be three dates on the Summer Challenge...

Roger Cettina, the only player to finish second twice in the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), and 2008 NHC champion Richard Goodall have been selected for induction into the NHC Hall of Fame, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Tuesday. Goodall and Cettina represent the sixth class of NHC Hall of Fame inductees and will be recognized during the NHC Champions Dinner on Sunday evening at the conclusion of the 21st NTRA National Horseplayers Championship Presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment and Bally's, set for Feb. 7-9 at Bally's...