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[PalaceOfFortLarned]

Originally Posted by PIC6SIX

I totally agree with you Palace. I PERSONALLY MADE THE FINAL TABLE AND I AM JUST AN "AVERAGE JOE HANDICAPPER" without any so called inside information. I just try to use my analytical skills when reviewing the PPs. Besides Karl Broberg, Gary Johnson (Ohio trainer, TDN, MVR) was also in the contest and I do not think he made the top 77 cut. I believe the contest trainers can read horse body language better than the average player and are more adept at identifying trainer angles. I was a Youngstown, Ohio native (now reside in CA) and followed TDN and MTN racing and Gary always seemed to be a "Above Board Good Guy". If one is looking for collusion, they need to look no further than the stock market. The NTRA/NHC is a GREAT EVENT, you have qualify at least once to know what I am talking about. That is my story and I am sticking to it.

Amazingly well done.

And serious congrats.

Originally Posted by ubercapper

Thank you mike, and apologies for just responding now. Five days and nights in Vegas can take it's toll and I'm just now back on eastern time.

For those that don't follow me on Twitter @Ubercapper (where I posted a shorter version), here's my story.

The goal is to make the cut to the top 10% which get $10K or more, this year that was 77th place. The score is usually in the $170 range and this year was no different.

Given I have a full time job which I really like as it allows me to engage with racing fans of all skill levels, I play in a lot less qualifiers than many others, but more than some.

Still, I got lucky and double qualified (the max entries is two) for the first time which is better than having one entry and it is similar to most qualifying contests, as well as the ones Jim Goodman (from Keeneland) puts on all winter at the Red Mile (on TB races), which serve as great practice for the NHC. Having had a good run and winning four of the first eight of those, plus the two qualifiers, I felt good going into the NHC.

My first day goal was $100 and I was very close at $96, leading to 52nd place among 766 entries. I had very few plays early on day 2 and drifted back to 100th but hit a 12 to 1 shot I liked, along with a couple of place horses, to be in 37th with $154. I still had five optional plays and three mandatory plays and needed about $20 to make the cut.

Alas, I did not add another point to my total on those eight races, and finished 137th. So although I was ahead of more than 600 other entries on my best ticket, that was that.

I had some great conversations with people at the event and will spend some time reviewing the horses I chose from in those eight races to learn from the experience.

It is a grind for sure.

3 days of hardcore handicapping with a bevy of tracks and races available.

You're obviously playing against some of the best contest players and handicappers in the country when you make it into that room. Beating that many players is quite an accomplishment.