More accolades for Shurman

One of the best résumés in the history of contest play just got better. Earlier this week, National Horseplayers’ Championship Hall of Famer Paul Shurman was announced as the winner of the first half of the 2019 NHC Tour. The NHC Tour is an interconnected series of contests that awards prizes at the mid-point and year’s end of the tour.

Shurman, who won the full-year tour in 2011, takes home a $10,000 entry to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge for finishing atop the standings in the year’s first half, and is in a position to make a run at more history if he can become the first ever two-time winner of the prestigious tour.

“I had to sweat out a lot of head-bobs to get there,” Shurman said.

Shurman, who has qualified for the NHC a co-record 16 times, barely held on ahead of Christy Moore and Karen Carey, who are each in their second year of NHC Tour play.

“I hope we can promote the fact that two women members have made such an impact on the tour,” said Shurman. “I have played next to both of them and they are not flukes. They are both very good horseplayers.”

In the NTRA press release about the victory, the headline referred to Shurman as a “legend.” Ever humble, Shurman quipped, “I read that and felt pretty proud and then the next day my wife said to me, ‘Hey legend, you forgot to take out the garbage.’ ”

Keeneland qualifiers on DRFT

While contest players are playing at Saratoga this weekend, many will also be thinking ahead to important upcoming events. On Saturday, DRF Tournaments offers chances to qualify for both the Keeneland Challenge and next year’s World Championship of Handicapping.

The Keeneland qualifier costs $410 to play and one in 10 entries will win a prize package worth $3,500. This includes a $3,000 buy-in for Keeneland on Sunday, Oct. 14, as well as $500 in travel. The Keeneland Challenge is one of the premier live-bankroll contests in the fall, and players flock to the storied Lexington oval from around the country to play in it.

Also on Saturday, players will have an opportunity to win into next year’s World Championship of Handicapping, DRF’s big-money, online game with no takeout in the finals. Details of next year’s game are expected to be announced soon. Saturday’s Grade 1 qualifier costs $580 to play and one in 10 players will win their $5,000 entries to the finals.

On Sunday, Monmouth’s Super Qualifier and the Pegasus World Cup Betting Championship take center stage.

The Monmouth Super Qualifier takes place on track at Monmouth on Saturday, Aug. 25. It costs $500 to play. On Sunday, players can win their buy-ins plus an additional $500 in travel. The game costs $120 and one in 10 will be winners.

Finally, on Sunday there will be a Round 1 game for the Pegasus contest. This one costs $220 and one in five entries will advance to the online Pegasus qualifier that will also be held on Saturday, Aug. 25. You can buy in directly to that game for $960, but why not win your way in instead?

For a full list of everything happening at DRF Tournaments go to tournaments.drf.com.