NHC-BCBC bonus now a $3 million 'rolling double'

In less than two months at the National Handicapping Championship, Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge champion Joe Appelbaum will attempt to win the largest prize ever offered in the handicapping contest world – a $3 million bonus for sweeping both marquee events.

On Monday the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced that the winner of the NHC will be eligible for a $3 million bonus if he or she goes on to win the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge. The announcement makes the NHC Tour Bonus a “rolling” double, as every BCBC and NHC winner will be eligible as long as they win each major contest successively, in either order.

NHC 18 is set for Jan. 27-29 at Treasure Island Las Vegas. The 2017 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge will be held Nov. 3-4 and based at the Breeders’ Cup host site, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club near San Diego.

Appelbaum earned $364,000 at this year’s BCBC and first prize at the NHC is $800,000, meaning that successful completion of the NHC Tour Double would be worth more than $4.164 million. BCBC players must be current members of the NHC Tour, at a $50 fee, to be eligible to win the lucrative bonus.

Qualifying for the NHC continues through January in contests held on-site and exclusively online at DRF Tournaments via its NHCQualify events. Players have the opportunity to win into weekend qualifiers through feeders, held Wednesday through Sunday, starting for as little as $18.

In its 18th year, the NHC is the richest handicapping tournament in the world with an expected overall purse of $2.5 million. There are no buy-ins to the NHC – players must win their way in through a sanctioned qualifier. Each year, the NHC winner joins other human and equine champions as an honoree at the Eclipse Awards.

For more information on the NHC Tour and a complete contest schedule, visit NTRA.com/nhc.