First Timer's Look at the NHC - Horse Racing Forum - PaceAdvantage.Com

agameofskill · 02-09-2017, 10:19 AM

By Craig Spencer

On January 27-29th I was lucky enough to be a guest at the Treasure Island Casino to participate in the 18th National Handicapping Championship. I have not played a lot of tournaments and was lucky to win a seat on New Years’ Eve off of a qualifier on nhcqualify.com. So my buddy and I headed to Vegas in hopes of coming home $800,000 richer.

It’s quite an event with so many like-minded handicappers enjoying spending time in an environment that caters to the horseplayer like none other. We are the target audience that week and no stone is left unturned. The NTRA does a top class job in organizing this event. The accommodations, buffets, and dinners are top notch. I will be back and I will be better prepared. Now onto the events in the contest.

I had spent the couple of weeks prior to the NHC going over every first time starter to have made their debut since early December at all of the available tracks (eight in total). I would make “trip notes” on ones that I thought ran better or worse than their running line might indicate. If their race seemed like the running line would represent their abilities well, then I didn’t bother.

I had made around 90 notes on these horses and had ... http://agameofskill.com/first-timers-look-nhc/

JBmadera · 02-09-2017, 10:35 AM

thanks for posting, enjoyed reading your story.

098poi · 02-09-2017, 10:51 AM

Great stuff!!! Thanks

agameofskill · 02-09-2017, 11:17 AM

Craig did a great job. Thanks!

cnollfan · 02-09-2017, 05:48 PM

Thanks for posting. And in case anyone missed the punch line: When in a contest vs. 600+ opponents, do not allow yourself to get talked off of a 60-1 shot in favor of the chalk.

Twin Double · 02-09-2017, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnollfan

Thanks for posting. And in case anyone missed the punch line: When in a contest vs. 600+ opponents, do not allow yourself to get talked off of a 60-1 shot in favor of the chalk.

That's why not a fan of tournaments. I never participated in one so I could be wrong but as an outsider looking in, it seems like your only chance of winning one is to just play ridiculous long shots and hope to get lucky.

Jack950 · 02-09-2017, 07:09 PM

Site that offer tournament play have caps in place. I really prefer playing the contests rather than para mutual for the most part. In addition, the 2 contest sites I play have lockdown games where all picks must be put in before the first race of the contest. This obviously prevents players from taking stabs late if they are down.

ReplayRandall · 02-09-2017, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack950

Site that offer tournament play have caps in place. I really prefer playing the contests rather than para mutual for the most part. In addition, the 2 contest sites I play have lockdown games where all picks must be put in before the first race of the contest. This obviously prevents players from taking stabs late if they are down.

Yeah Jack, Derbywars has lockdowns, Horsetourneys has Pick-n-Prays.....The only way to play...

Jack950 · 02-10-2017, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReplayRandall

Yeah Jack, Derbywars has lockdowns, Horsetourneys has Pick-n-Prays.....The only way to play...

Correct. Overall Horse Tourney's has the better games imo for games that the picks need to be set before the first race. Today HT has a Pick & Pray with a 3K top prize and many Pick & Pray games where the buy is $12 or less. Great way to get some action without spending a lot of $$.

Twin Double · 02-10-2017, 09:05 AM

What's are pick & prays?

Jack950 · 02-10-2017, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twin Double

What's are pick & prays?

All your picks Have to be in before start of the first race in the contest. Therefore you can not change your picks after the contest starts. Great way to play so you do not have players that are behind taking shots late to try and pass the leaders. Check it out at Horse tourney's if you are interested. GL.

Twin Double · 02-10-2017, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack950

All your picks Have to be in before start of the first race in the contest. Therefore you can not change your picks after the contest starts. Great way to play so you do not have players that are behind taking shots late to try and pass the leaders. Check it out at Horse tourney's if you are interested. GL.

Yeah, I'll have to look into this. I know it's growing in popularity just never knew anyone who participated or learned how they work. I'll check it out, though.

Jack950 · 02-10-2017, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twin Double

Yeah, I'll have to look into this. I know it's growing in popularity just never knew anyone who participated or learned how they work. I'll check it out, though.

Good deal. Living in Ohio you are good to go as it's not a restricted state. There are some players making big scores on these sites. I did come close to making a 7K score last year in a game, but just missed as my alternate horse would have put me right there. I usually play the smaller contests, but both sites have ways to qualify into the big $$ games for smaller change. GL if you decide to join.

bruin95 · 02-10-2017, 02:45 PM

It's very frustrating that I have virtually no chance of qualifying for an event that takes place less than 10 miles from my home, because Nevada (the gambling capital of the U.S.), is a restricted state. I can't even deposit money into any tournament site account to play in the qualifying contests.

Jack950 · 02-10-2017, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruin95

It's very frustrating that I have virtually no chance of qualifying for an event that takes place less than 10 miles from my home, because Nevada (the gambling capital of the U.S.), is a restricted state. I can't even deposit money into any tournament site account to play in the qualifying contests.

Yeah Nevada banned Fantasy sports. Conversely, I can play sites like Derby Wars in my state, but can not use a legal ADW site. Funny how it works.