The National Horseplayers Championship March 14-16, 2025 at Horseshoe Las Vegas is a big event for … [+]
The 26th National Horseplayers Championship begins Friday at Horseshoe Las Vegas and runs through Sunday, March 16. The annual handicapping contest for horse players is expected to break the record with estimates from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) anticipating more than 625 contestants.
On Thursday the NTRA is hosting a huge Last Chance/First Chance contest at Horseshoe Las Vegas providing players one final opportunity to qualify into the National Horseplayers Championship. The NHC prize pool is expected to swell over $4.5 million with a first-place prize of nearly $825,000 – exceeding last year’s top prize of $800,000. Some contestants will have two entries through qualifying, bringing the total qualified entries to more than 800 following Thursday’s final entries.
A total of 13 past NHC champions will be competing against players from 47 states plus Canada for the top prize and Eclipse Award as the 2025 Horseplayer of the Year.
FanDuel Racing and FanDuelTV will cover the select races for the tournament, and provide betting tools and tips for horse racing fans from the starting gate to the winners circle. Fans can follow the select ‘mandatory’ races and additional optional races for the tournament along with the leaderboard through the NTRA online and social updates, along with FanDuel live racing coverage and results.
NHC Format And Qualifying
Contestants place mythical $2 win and place wagers on optional and selected mandatory races from a 7-8 tracks across the U.S. Friday through Sunday – Aqueduct, Colonial Downs, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream, Oaklawn, Santa Anita, Tampa Bay Downs, and Turfway Park. The players are awarded the amount of payout if their selected horse finishes first or second (see rules). The top 10 percent of contenstants/entries after two days of betting all earn a share of the prize money (minimum $10,000) and go on to compete for the top prize Sunday, prior to the final table being set.
Contestants and handicappers cannot buy an entry to play in the NHC, which is presented by Caesars Race & Sportsbook, Horseshoe Las Veags and Racetrack Television Network. Players must join the NTRA’s NHC Tour and win a spot with a high finish in an NTRA-sanctioned contest.
Notable 2025 NHC Contestants And Where They Qualified
Each year, thousands of bettors put their skills, strategy, and bankroll to the test in qualifiers across the country, competing for a coveted spot at the National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas. The NHC is the pinnacle of horse gambling, like the World Series of Poker held in the summer at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. The WSOP Main Event World Championship is poker’s pinnacle with a gold bracelet and top prize more than 10 times the NHC winner’s share.
But the excitment of the NHC and what it means to horseplayers was documented in the Winners Circle, which premeired March 6 and provided highlights from the 2024 NHC.
“The moment we stepped onto the tournament floor at the NHC, it was clear that horse racing’s most passionate and knowledgeable fans are its gamblers,” said Michael Horton, director of Winner’s Circle who brought the idea to Duality Sports & Entertainment. “Handicapping is a mix of skill, instinct, and deep research. The dedication these players bring to the game is what makes this world so compelling.”
This year’s NHC event also runs just ahead of opening weekend of March Madness, which will also allow college basketball enthusiasts in Vegas to check out the biggest and best sportsbooks in Las Vegas and all the March Madness parties March 20-23.
“The NHC is to Thoroughbred racing what the U.S. Open is to golf. Anyone can qualify and compete in the NHC for a life-changing score, an Eclipse Award and the title of Horseplayer of the Year. It’s the most competitive stage for horseplayers, where the best minds in the game test their skills under intense pressure,” said Tom Rooney, President and Chief Executive Officer of the NTRA. “Duality has captured the drama and excitement that makes this tournament so special.”
You can bet on it.
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