Fact Sheet

WHAT IS THE DAILY RACING FORM/NTRA NATIONAL HANDICAPPING CHAMPIONSHIP?

The Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) has quickly become the U.S. Open of Thoroughbred racing handicapping tournaments. The NHC, with a total estimated prize pool of $930,000, is the culmination of a season-long series of National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA)-sanctioned handicapping tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino racebooks, off-track betting facilities and horse racing and handicapping Web sites with the top finishers from each tourney advancing to the national finals to play for a $500,000 top prize and the crown of North America’s top horseplayer. The Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship will be conducted January 29-30, 2010 at Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa in Las Vegas, NV.

THE PARTICIPANTS

The field for the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship is comprised of finalists from NTRA-sanctioned preliminary tournament sites who represent the creme de la creme of Thoroughbred racing horseplayers – the world’s top professional gamblers, tournament veterans and weekend handicappers. However, there also is a large collection of $2 bettors and lucky novices who bucked long odds to win their local qualifying tournaments. Defending champion John Conte of Oceanside, N.Y., will head a field of 302 horseplayers representing 85 qualifying events in the U.S. and Canada, and on the Internet.

THE STAKES

The winner of the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship will earn $500,000 and be crowned the “DRF/NTRA Handicapper of the Year”. Total prize money is an estimated $930,000.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

There is a total of 30 wagers placed in the tournament. Each participant must make a mythical $2 win and $2 place wager on 15 different races each day. There are eight mandatory races, selected by tournament officials, on which each entrant must wager. Each player will also wager on seven other races of his or her choice each day from any of the racetracks designated as an eligible tournament track. Tournament wagers are limited to win and place only. There is a cap placed on all payoffs. The win cap is 20-1 ($42.00) and the place cap is 10-1 ($22.00). There will be a menu of seven tracks available to wager on: Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, Golden Gate Fields, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Oaklawn Park and Santa Anita.

Participants may select only one horse per race and there is no specifying of alternates. Each wager must be placed by one minute to post. If there is a scratch in a race that a player has selected, that player may make another wager on that race, time permitting, or they may re-wager on another race subject to all other rules. Should a scratch occur in a mandatory race, it is the player’s responsibility to change his or her selection prior to post time. If this is not possible, the player shall receive the post time betting favorite. Should no wager be placed on any horse in a mandatory race, that participant will receive zero points for that race.

POINT TABULATION

Winners will be determined by the total combined mutuel payoffs of all 30 wagers ($2 win/$2 place) placed during the two days of tournament play. In the event of a tie, the prize money for the higher placing will be awarded to the participant with the greater number of winners for the two days. In the further event of a tie, the player with the greater number of winners in the mandatory races will be awarded the placing.

PRIZE MONEY

In addition to the DRF/NTRA Handicapper of the Year award, the field of finalists will be playing for a Grand Prize of $500,000.

WHAT IS THE NHC TOUR?

The NHC Tour is a yearlong bonus series offering additional prize money and qualifying berths to the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC). The NHC Tour is open only to officially registered contestants and will be based on performances at NHC qualifying events throughout the year. NHC Tour members receive NHC Tour points for finishing in the top 10 percent of the field in NHC qualifying events held during the year. Final, end-of-year standings will be based only on a participant’s five best scores. At the end of the year’s qualifying events, the overall NHC Tour point leader will receive a bonus of $100,000. Additional cash prizes are paid to other top finishers. Should the overall NHC Tour winner go on to capture first place in the NHC finals, he or she will receive a $2 million bonus.