Steve Byk

David Erwin of Charlottesville, Virginia took home the grand prize of this year's Beat Byk NHC Challenge, earning his first-ever berth to the National Horseplayers Championship next March. This year's contest drew more than 12,000 entries throughout the eight weeks of competition, which saw entrants "Beat Byk" 14 out of 17 times. The Beat Byk final qualifier Sept. 14 had 918 individuals who played for the winning ticket. "I've been trying to qualify for the NHC for a few years, but I do not have time to put the work...

The "Beat Byk NHC Challenge" will return this summer as the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and Steve Byk, host of the Thoroughbred radio news magazine "At the Races" on Sirius XM, partner to send one NHC Tour member to Las Vegas to compete in the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) next March. Now in its sixth season, the "Beat Byk NHC Challenge" will be held July 11 through Sept. 2. Each Thursday, Byk will select the weekend stakes races to comprise that week's promotion and announce them on "At the...

With $800,000 and the Horseplayer of the Year Eclipse Award to the winner, the official prize structure of this weekend's 25th National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas was posted in a Friday release by the host of the contest, the NTRA. At the conclusion of the Final Table on Sunday, total cash prizes offered over the three days come to $3,013,550. The top 77 are guaranteed money with that final finisher receiving $10,150. The top five payouts are: First Place--$800,000 Second Place--$250,000 Third Place--$200,000 Fourth Place--$150,000 Fifth Place--$125,000 Along with...

Second Stride's Champions Night fundraiser will convene at The Manhattan Project, 2101 Frankfort Ave. in Louisville from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Monday, Apr. 29, the retired racehorse organization said in a release Thursday. An admission donation is set at $25, while the restaurant is giving 10 percent of its bar business during the Derby Week event to Second Stride. Also, there will be the Smoke Easy Cigar Lounge, along with both live and silent auctions of racing memorabilia and experiences. As in the past, the centerpiece will be...

The 25th National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Horseplayers Championship presented by Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe Las Vegas, and Racetrack Television Network kicks off Friday, Mar. 15, running through Sunday, Mar. 17, at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. The field of an estimated 750 entries will yield one ultimate winner, who will go home with $800,000 and an Eclipse Award as the Horseplayer of the Year. The NHC features more than 600 top horseplayers (including approximately 150 individuals with two entries), awarding nearly $4.5 million in cash and prizes. All qualifiers will receive...

Turf writer Tom Law, the president of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association, appeared on Steve Byk's radio show Thursday to discuss the disagreements the group had with its fellow Eclipse presenters, Daily Racing Form and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, over this year's awards. Law said that the NTWAB's disagreements centered around two issues: industry organizations being added to those up for consideration for media Eclipse Awards, and the awarding of this year's Eclipse Award of Merit to Stuart Janney. Woodbine Entertainment went on to win an Eclipse...

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame's Executive Committee has approved changes regarding the institution's Historic Review committee process based on feedback received from the chair and members, the institution said in a Friday release. Beginning this year, the Historic Review Committee will start an annual rotation to examine a specific era of American racing history. Only candidates from within the designated era will be considered for Hall of Fame induction during that year's review process. Previously, the Historic Review Committee met three out of every four years...

Steve Byk, who hosts Sirius XM radio magazine 'At the Races With Steve Byk', is once again teaming with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) for the 'Beat Byk NHC Challenge,' offering a seat at the 2024 National Horseplayers' Championship. Running from July 15 through Sept. 4, Byk will select the weekend stakes races that comprise that week's promotion and announce them his show and on his Twitter page. During the initial promotional period, there will be 17 chances to qualify to the Beat Byk NHC Online Qualifier on September...

Edited Press Release A horse ownership stake with Skychai Racing, an outdoor cigar lounge and multiple ready-for-Instagram backgrounds are just a few of the new features added this year to Second Stride's 12th annual Derby week Champions Night at Molly Malone's in the Highlands section of Louisville Monday, May 1 from 6-9 pm. Of all fundraisers taking place Derby week, it is the only event raising money for the horses, enabling the Louisville-based organization to continue to provide professional rehabilitation, retraining and placement of retired thoroughbred racehorses.  Placing over 100...

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTOB) awards dinner Apr. 5 in Lexington named Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy), dam of Grade I winner Malathaat (Curlin) and Grade II winner Julia Shining (Curlin), the 2022 Broodmare of the Year. Summer Wind Equine was awarded a bronze mare and foal as the breeder of Flightline (Tapit), who was crowned Champion Kentucky-Bred Horse of the Year and Champion Kentucky-Bred Older Dirt Male. Godolphin received multiple bronzes as the recipient of the P.A.B. Widener Trophy, best known...

John Shear, who retired from his post as Santa Anita Park's paddock guard this year at age 100, will be honored along with retired Del Mar publicist Dan Smith, Turf writer Lenny Shulman and radio personality Steve Byk during the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters' 61st annual Awards Dinner Wednesday, Nov. 3. The NTWAB Awards Dinner is the organization's only fundraiser and a portion of the proceeds of the event are used toward scholarships for prospective racing journalists and to support other Thoroughbred industry charities. The NTWAB Awards Dinner returns...

The contrast between NYRA's Saratoga and the Churchill Downs, Inc.-owned Arlington couldn't be greater. While the latter died an ignominious death over the weekend, punctuated by Arlington president Tony Petrillo outrageously booting deadline photographers and writers, including this publication's Alan Carasso, from the press box 90 minutes after the completion of the race formerly known as the Gl Arlington Million, Saratoga--or the Spa, as it's known--is flourishing under solid management. The upstate New York track has been welcoming fans at full capacity since it opened for the season after the...