Who was Handicapper of the Year?

[kingfin66]

Originally Posted by mountainman

I would completely agree, except that the same names tend to pop up on leaderboards- and wind up in the finals-year after year. There is no denying that certain contestants sure have a knack for those hole in ones.

It reminds me of this quote from Rounders:

Mike McDermott: Why do you think the same five guys make it to the final table of the World Series of Poker EVERY YEAR? What, are they the luckiest guys in Las Vegas?

[Cardus]

Originally Posted by kingfin66

It reminds me of this quote from Rounders:

Mike McDermott: Why do you think the same five guys make it to the final table of the World Series of Poker EVERY YEAR? What, are they the luckiest guys in Las Vegas?

Do the same players make it to the final table each year?

I know that this is not the case.

Can you provide examples?

Never rely upon quotes from movies to validate reality.

[Donnie]

Ok. Let me explain.

2 years ago, the NTRA formed a committee made up of Tournament horseplayers that they hoped would be able to help steer them towards a bigger, better and more lucrative contest called the National Handicapping Championship. The Player’s Committee has been in existence the past 2 years out of this tournament’s young 12 years of life. Each year, the tournament’s purse structure has grown from its meager inaugural total prize of $200K. Next year, the anticipated total pool is set at a cool $2M, with $1M going to the winner.

The Player’s Committee is comprised of 13 individual tournament players from all walks of life and all levels of tournament involvement. The sitting Committee contains 2 past NHC Champs. Their main mission is to take recommendations to the NTRA concerning growing the Tournament and positive changes that would benefit both the Tournament and the Players. The Committee maintains an open door to suggestions and ideas. These in turn are discussed by the Committee and if merit warrants, they approach the NTRA about the feasibility of incorporating these ideas.

One idea that was floated and accepted this past year was the idea of an Eclipse Award given to the NHC Champion. The NTRA came back with the idea that all past NHC Champs should also receive an Eclipse for their accomplishments. While the past few years the NHC Champ had been honored at the Eclipse Awards, they did not receive an actual Eclipse. This year was to be different.

Fast forward to Monday’s ceremony. Brian Troop, this past year’s NHC Champ, was honored and did receive an Eclipse Award. In fact, I believe he was first up. I missed the telecast completely so I am going by what others have stated. I went out to research the winners of all the Awards. I was rather dismayed to find that Brian’s Award had been neglected in EVERY instance or list stating the winners. No DRF mention. No NTRA website mention. Even the Eclipse Awards Facebook page; nothing. Although even the Media Eclipse Awards were represented, the Handicapper of the Year was conspicuously missing.

If this was the program, then I guess I expected they (the NTRA) would follow it. In the past I have been one of those individuals who feel that many tracks take for granted many of the horseplayers. In this day and age, I realize the tracks’ challenges are even greater. But truly, the player is the lifeblood of this sport. At first I was surprised that no one was actually replying to threads I started here and on the HTR board. The one on the HTR board was somewhat scathing, so after there were no replies, I went and deleted it. I was getting the impression that this may be another of those cases of “who cares?”. But more and more people are contacting Alex Waldrop, president of the NTRA, asking about this oversight.

Personally, I find tournaments great fun. I have made many friends while playing tournaments across the country. Yes, there is a successful tournament strategy that one must adopt if they wish to be successful in tournament play. While definitely there have been winners who have hit those hole-in-ones, there have been many more that have been successful handicapping for mid-priced horses. Brian Troop is one of those. He had a remarkable year last year and he was rewarded by “playing his game” in the Finals. Personally, I felt a huge oversight had happened when I saw he was left off all of the press-release lists as one of the Eclipse Award Winners. Even more so, when I received an email from the NTRA this morning with this line in it: “The Eclipse Awards are given to the horses and people who represent both the pinnacle and the foundation of horse racing.” I wanted to put this to the public. I didn’t want this to be just overlooked. In an email reply posted on the HTR board, Waldrop mentioned they will make sure this oversight does not happen next year. I now wonder why they don’t change the web pages currently posted to reflect this award…?

I appreciate the feedback that has been posted in this thread. It shows me that we do care. I appreciate as well those people who took the time to address this oversight to the NTRA. While at times we may not all be on the same page, positive dialog goes a long way. And that’s what the Player’s Committee is attempting to achieve on your behalf. I know. I had been a Committee member through 2010.

I encourage anyone who has an interest in the NHC Championships to get involved. Play the tournaments. Make some new friends. Tournament Players form a bond, a type of fellowship. If we are not in contention, we stick around and root for our friends who may be. One thing that nearly all tournament players admit is that they have made many friends through the competition. And there is nothing like meeting up in Vegas at the Finals, and going through it all again, but for some huge money. Best part- if you wish, you can try to qualify right from home. I did last year in Feb. I won the Fountain of Youth contest the NTRA had for Tour Members free online.

If you have ideas, contact the Player’s Committee. They would love to hear them.

Best of Luck to all who are still reading this!

-Donnie

[Donnie]

From Steve "StatMan" I think they should move the final tournament up a few weeks, maybe the early weekend of the Eclipse Awards. Ideally, I would liked to have caught up this year and honor both the 2010 and 2011 winner in Jan 2011 (tournament too late, eclipse awards already out. Or alight the dates better, Brian Troop qualified in 2009, won the final in 2010. Is he really handicapper of 2010 or 2009? He's good, he won, let's honor him, but such a long delay.

Hi Steve! Hope all is well in Chicago!!

To your quote above, the NTRA is discussing this very thought you posted. They do hope they can make it that the Handicapper of the Year could be determined early in Jan so they may be honored immediately a the Eclipse Awards. But as your subsequent post states, Vegas has to be willing or even able to book it. Next year they expect 500 qualifiers into the Finals. That can lead to logistical nightmares, especially when trying to find a racebook to fit that many players!

[kingfin66]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Do the same players make it to the final table each year?

I know that this is not the case.

Can you provide examples?

Never rely upon quotes from movies to validate reality.

I'll let you do your own leg work on that. In this case, the "final table" I was referring to was the NHC. In terms of that contest, yes, many of the players are the same year after year. Maybe don't be so touchy?

[Cardus]

Originally Posted by kingfin66

I'll let you do your own leg work on that. In this case, the "final table" I was referring to was the NHC. In terms of that contest, yes, many of the players are the same year after year. Maybe don't be so touchy?

I am not so touchy; that is one of the Internet Land default positions.

To what "NHC", now that you mention it, are you referring?

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Do the same players make it to the final table each year?

I know that this is not the case.

Can you provide examples?

Never rely upon quotes from movies to validate reality.

Not only is that not the case...but it seems that the opposite is true. The unknowns have been dominating the final tables for years now.

[Stillriledup]

Good stuff Donnie, i read your post all the way thru!

I love the tournament concept, but i'm not sure i love the NTRA tournament the way its currently set up. I would like to see many less people fighting for the top prize. The reason i say that is the more people who are entered in the final contest, the more likely the winner will not be the actual best horseplayer, but the person who just had a hot few days. The more people who are entered, the more it turns into a crap shoot. Also, with a 2 day tournament, its such a short sample, that the 500th best player has a chance to beat the best player....which means its more of a luck contest than a skill contest.

I'm not sure how they can 'tweak' this contest to be more of a skill contest, i guess they would have to lengthen the amount of days the contest is running. Any "Joe" can have a hot weekend. Maybe that's what they're shooting for, setting the thing up so that anyone can win and actual handicapping skill isn't as important as stabbing at random 50-1 shots and landing on one of them.

[Donnie]

Stillriledup--

While on the Committee, my opinion was the less number of qualifiers the more prestigious the event would be. But that would make achieving a $2M+ purse impossible.

There is a new startup trying to achieve the entire process online. www.WHChamp.com is holding regular contests and hope to qualify less than 200 people for a final purse prize value around $750K. In my eyes this is rather ambitious in their first year. They held a free tournament in Dec and had their first pay tourney last week. $100 to get in. They drew 87 entries, but also went up against 2 other online qualifiers on the same day. The only "prize" is qualifying for the Finals in Dec. The Qualifiers are also given their entry fees back. They do not hold you to one qualified Finals spot, as the NHC does. If you can qualify for 6 seats in the Finals, more power to you. (The World Series held that the Orleans in Vegas has also opened up their format to multiple buy-ins) Their next qualifier is coming up in Feb. They qualified 6 people in their free roll in Dec and I was lucky enough to be in the top 6.

If you have any suggestions for the NHC feel free to air them. The Players Committee is always looking for ways to improve the Tournament for the Players.

[InsideThePylons-MW]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

I'm not sure how they can 'tweak' this contest to be more of a skill contest, i guess they would have to lengthen the amount of days the contest is running.

3 days

$5000 bankroll (real money that the player gets to keep would be ideal)

Add more tracks....morning, afternoon and night.....basically all non-qh and harness tracks that are available each day.

WPS bets only (would rather have EX and TRI too but probably best to keep it simple)

Fri-Sat must bet 50 races....$100 minimum per race

Sunday must bet 30 races...$200 minimum per race

Can bet anything from minimum to entire bankroll per race.

If you bet less races than required, the minimum bet for the races missed is deducted from your total.

The only time you can bet less than the minimum amount is if you have less than the minimum amount remaining but entire balance must be bet per race until amount goes above minimum.

When you are broke...you are out.

Contest ends Sunday after last CA race is over.

[OTM Al]

I see someone has no idea of the mechanics of running one of these things....

[InsideThePylons-MW]

Originally Posted by OTM Al

I see someone has no idea of the mechanics of running one of these things....

IF giving every contestant a personalized bet card and have it all computerized is too mechanical for a multi-million $ event.....then just keep it the outdated crapshoot joke that it is.

[OTM Al]

Originally Posted by InsideThePylons-MW

IF giving every contestant a personalized bet card and have it all computerized is too mechanical for a multi-million $ event.....then just keep it the outdated crapshoot joke that it is.

I'm talking about events that do use cards already and what you suggest is still too much. Tracks need to be limited. That way you can have enough TVs so that everyone in the room can see all the active tracks. You want 25-30 bets a day? That's nuts. Way too many. They set required races for everyone to play each day and you only have to pick your 5 best shots for the rest of the day. That is handicapping. What you suggest is making people play races they don't even like. You want to take a sports book away from the casino for another day, which may well be an NFL day, fat chance. You want it to run from about 9am to 9pm Vegas time each day. When you going to handicap for tomorrow? You are also going to kill the coordinators as they won't get to sleep for 3 straight days.

Have you ever played in one of these? I have. I'd want no part of what you suggest.

[InsideThePylons-MW]

Originally Posted by OTM Al

I'm talking about events that do use cards already and what you suggest is still too much. Tracks need to be limited. That way you can have enough TVs so that everyone in the room can see all the active tracks. You want 25-30 bets a day? That's nuts. Way too many. They set required races for everyone to play each day and you only have to pick your 5 best shots for the rest of the day. That is handicapping. What you suggest is making people play races they don't even like. You want to take a sports book away from the casino for another day, which may well be an NFL day, fat chance. You want it to run from about 9am to 9pm Vegas time each day. When you going to handicap for tomorrow? You are also going to kill the coordinators as they won't get to sleep for 3 straight days.

Have you ever played in one of these? I have. I'd want no part of what you suggest.

I'll forward this post to the people that run the WSOP.

They might die from laughing so hard.

[OTM Al]

Originally Posted by InsideThePylons-MW

I'll forward this post to the people that run the WSOP.

They might die from laughing so hard.

Yes, you are quite something to laugh at. There is no comparison here. You want to go play poker, go have fun. I want to handicap horses and what you propose is not handicapping.