Live in Las Vegas
HANDICAPPING CONTESTS
WEDNESDAY
Arizona Charlie's: Win & Quin contest on Santa Anita card ($10 entry) $800 added to all entry fees.
Texas Station: Contest on Santa Anita card ($10 entry) all entries paid back to winners on 60-30-10 pay schedule; $100 prize to person leading after fifth race (must be present to win); progressive, starting at $200 and increases by $50 each day it's not hit, for scoring that day's designated point total, which starts at 135 and decreases by one each day it's not hit.
Excalibur: Contest on Santa Anita card ($10 entry) $2,000 in cash prizes, plus drawings after every race (drawings after odd-numbered races are for food prizes, drawings after even-numbered races are for $100 cash).
Poker Palace: Head-to-head matchup contest (free) $1,000 aggregate to winner(s); entrants pick five matches a day; contest runs Wednesday through Sunday.
THURSDAY
Coast Resorts (The Orleans, Gold Coast, Barbary Coast, Suncoast): King of the Hill contest on first five races at Santa Anita ($10 entry, maximum two per person) half of entry fees, plus $1,500 added by Coast Resorts, go to regular contest based on mutuel payoffs; half of entry fees, plus $1,500 added by Coast Resorts, go to the consistency contest in which players must keep their pick in the top three in races one and two, the top two in races three and four, and win the fifth race to claim the jackpot; if not hit, the people who last the longest split half the jackpot with the rest carrying over until the next contest.
Texas Station: Contest on Santa Anita card ($10 entry) rules same as Wednesday.
Poker Palace: Head-to-head matchup contest (free) rules same as Wednesday.
FRIDAY
Binion's Horseshoe: 'Shoe Q on Santa Anita card ($10 entry) $500 added to all entry fees, plus drawings for $100 in mutuel wagers.
Sunset Station: Win & "in the money" contest on Santa Anita card ($10 entry) $1,000 to highest combined mutuels, $300 for second, $200 for third; entry fees go into "in the money" progressive.
Las Vegas Hilton: Contest on Santa Anita card (free) $700 for first, $200 for second, $100 for third
Union Plaza: Contest on last five races at Santa Anita (free) $500 aggregate to entrant(s) with highest combined winning mutuels, $500 aggregate to entrant(s) picking the most winners.
Texas Station: Contest on Santa Anita card ($10 entry) rules same as Wednesday.
Poker Palace: Head-to-head matchup contest (free) rules same as Wednesday.
SATURDAY
Sam's Town: Free and Easy contest on last three races at Bay Meadows and last three races at Santa Anita (free) $1,000 aggregate to winner(s)
Poker Palace: Head-to-head matchup contest (free), rules same as Wednesday, with addition of $100 aggregate bonus for going 5-0 on Saturday.
SUNDAY
Poker Palace: Head-to-head matchup contest (free), rules same as Wednesday, with addition of $100 aggregate bonus for going 5-0 on Sunday.
Fiesta North Las Vegas: Big 5 Pony Express contest on five selected races (free) top 10 finishers win prizes ranging from $500 for first and $100 for second to food comps, Fiesta logo merchandise and player's club points; contestants must sign up for an Amigo Club Player's Card.
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 17-19: Bellagio poker tournament, no limit holdem, $3,000 entry fee
April 18-19: Harrah's Reno Horse Handicapping Tournament, Harrah's Reno, $500 entry fee
April 19-May 24: World Series of Poker, Binion's Horseshoe, entry fees range from $440 for Hearts up to $10,000 for the Championship Event
April 20: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Jose Luis Castillo, lightweight title fight, MGM Grand Garden Arena
April 20: Tiger Woods' Tiger Jam Benefit, Mandalay Bay
May 1-3: Pick the Ponies, handicapping tournament, Las Vegas Hilton, $500 entry fee ($400 if paid by April 22)
May 2: Grand opening of Neonopolis, a downtown entertainment and dining plaza
May 2-4: Sting in the Spring, handicapping tournament, Reno Hilton, $3,000 entry fee
May 4: Kentucky Derby parties throughout city
To make changes to these listings, call Dave Tuley at 702-806-3866 or e-mail davetuley@hotmail.com