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To salute horseplayers throughout North America, John O’Neil of Huntington Station, N.Y., has been recognized as winner of the $800,000 first-place prize, an Eclipse Award, and the title of 2015 Daily Racing Form/NTRA Horseplayer of the Year for capturing the 16th annual DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship last January at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
The National Handicapping Championship is the pinnacle of all tournaments for horseplayers and the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino race books, offtrack betting facilities, and horse racing and handicapping websites. The NHC has enjoyed tremendous popularity over the past decade. The first NHC in 2000 had a total purse of $212,000. The total purse of this year’s NHC 17 is estimated to be $2.5 million, with $800,000 to the winner.
O’Neil, 75, is a small-business owner on Long Island. He was introduced to handicapping on visits to the old Jamaica Race Course in Queens in the 1950s.
“My brother took me one day when I was 14 or 15, and I’ve been doing it every day since,” O’Neil said. “It’s been a journey to get here, believe me. This probably makes me even after a lifetime.”
The 17th Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship presented by Racetrack Television Network and Treasure Island will be held over three days at the end of this month, Thursday to Saturday, Jan. 28-30, at Treasure Island.
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