Handicappers descend on Las Vegas for NHC

Nearly 600 people are expected to compete this year in the National Horseplayers Championship beginning this Friday at Bally’s Las Vegas in Nevada, according to the organizers of the tournament.

The qualifiers are expected to play approximately 700 entries in the tournament, which will have nearly $3 million in prize money and will run for three days. The top 10 percent of players after the first two days will make the semifinals on Sunday, with the 10 highest cumulative scorers in the round earning a seat at the so-called “Final Table” that will determine the ultimate winner.

First place in the tournament will be worth an estimated $800,000. The winner will also be recognized at next year’s Eclipse Award ceremonies as the Horseplayer of the Year.

This year’s format will require players to make $2 mythical win-place bets on eight pre-selected races on both Friday and Saturday. On both of those days, players will also make win-place bets on 10 additional races from one of eight designated NHC tournament tracks.

Players who make the semifinal round will select all 10 races in the round from the designated NHC tournament tracks. The players who make the Final Table will all play seven designated races.

Eight previous winners of the tournament qualified for this year’s NHC, including last year’s winner Scott Coles, who was awarded an automatic berth as part of his victory prize. The winner of the most recent NHC Tour, David Snyder, will be eligible for $5.8 million in bonuses if he wins this year’s tournament, and the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, Brad Anderson, is eligible for a $3 million bonus.

Standings in the tournament will be updated regularly at the website of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, which administers the tournament.