The Maryland Jockey Club Champions Tournament on April 24 was won by Chris Panos, who took home $5,000 and earned a trip to Las Vegas to compete in NHC VI.

The one-day contest cost $100 to enter. Participants supplied their own $200 real-money bankrolls. All betting in this contest was pari-mutuel, and any bet including win, place, show and exotics are permitted in the contest, with the exception of multi-race bets (such as pick threes, pick fours, etc.) at simulcast tracks. The object of the contest was to accumulate the highest possible bankroll by the end of the day.

Panos turned his $200 into a contest-winning bankroll of $1,936.80. Along with first-prize money of $5,000, Panos¹s overall contest cash earnings totaled $6,736.80.

The second- and third-place finishers in the MJC Champions Tournament also earned qualifying spots in NHC VI. The runner-up, with a bankroll of $1,800.70, was Robert Wheeler Jr. who won second prize of $2,000. Peter Kousouris finished third and earned a $1,000 prize with a final bankroll of $1,592. The fourth through tenth-place finishers each earned $300, bringing total prize money for the event to $10,100.

The Maryland Jockey Club is scheduled to host another Champions Handicapping Tournament on Saturday, November 27 in the Carriage Room at Laurel Park.