Proposed Format Change in the NHC

Here's the letter sent out to handicappers about a potenital change in the 2012 NHC.

Congratulations on qualifying for the 2012 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, presented by Treasure Island and Sovereign Stable.

Earlier this year, we announced plans to expand next January's field to approximately 500 participants and raise the 2012 NHC purse to an estimated $2 million, with $1 million to the winner. We are on pace to achieve those goals.

As we plan for this expansion and a move to a ballroom setting in a new host hotel, we would like to get your feedback on a proposed tournament format change which we are considering implementing in January 2012. Below is an outline of the newly proposed format. For those of you who are first-time qualifiers, click here to read the rules for the 2011 NHC.

Key differences include:

Current format:

2 days, 30 races total

Mythical Win and Place wagers on 15 races each day (8 mandatory, 7 optional)

Winnings capped at 20-1 to win, 10-1 to place.

Proposed format beginning January 2012 NHC: 3 days (see below)

First two days open to all participants

Day 1 - 15 mandatory races

Day 2 - 15 optional races

Day 3 - All scores reset to zero, and a progressive elimination tournament is held involving the top 80 players from days 1 and 2. A lucrative free consolation tournament will be held on day 3 for all other tourney participants.

- Winnings capped at 20-1 to win and 10-1 to place as per usual.

Explanation of Day 3

A total of 80 players (plus anyone tied for 80th place) will advance from the first two days of competition, and each of these 80 players will receive a minimum of $2,000 in prize money. Previous NHCs have paid to the top 20-30 players.

The third day will consist of five elimination rounds with half of the field being eliminated after each round. Round 5 will consist of the final 5 players competing in that round until a champion is determined.

Importantly, the top three players from the first two days of play will receive byes into final rounds and top seeds for the final day. For example:

After Day 2

• The player with the 3rd place total will receive a bye to the round of 40 on Day 3 (and guaranteed prize money of approximately $5,000).

• The player with the 2nd place total will receive a bye to the round of 20 on Day 3 (and guaranteed prize money of approximately $10,000).

• The player with the 1st place total will receive a bye to the round of 10 on Day 3 (and guaranteed prize money of approximately $20,000).

After round 1, 43 players will advance (top 40 plus 3 exempt),

After round 2, 22 players will advance (top 20 plus 2 exempt),

After round 3, 11 players will advance (top 10 plus 1 exempt).

Since the point totals on Day 3 move with the player in each of the first 4 rounds, the exempt players will have to play in each round in order to accumulate points for scoring purposes. Since their exemptions apply only to the respective 4 rounds, these 3 players will have to accumulate enough points to advance beyond their exempt round.

The scoring for all rounds will be the same as the first two days of competition ($2 win and place with the cap). On Day 3, all 80 players will begin at zero points. During rounds 1 - 4 the remaining players will carry their respective point totals with them into the next round (no reset to zero after each round). In round 5, the (final five) players totals will be reset to zero and these five players will play a 4 race match with the highest aggregate score being named the champion.

Round 1 will consist of 80 players playing 4 designated mandatory races. The 40 players (and ties for the 40th spot) with the highest aggregate total after the 4 races move to the second round. This same scoring format will continue for each of the remaining rounds. If for some reason, fewer than 40 players accumulate points in the first round, then only those players WITH points will advance. For example, if only 37 players score points then only those 37 advance. This situation will only apply to round 1, since a player's points will move with them in each subsequent round. All players tied for the final spot in each of the remaining rounds will advance (no tie breaker). It is possible to have more than the prescribed number of players (because of a tie) moving to the next round.

In the event a player's horse is scratched (gate or post parade), the player will be allowed to change his respective selection in that race "if time permits." If time does not permit, the player will be given the post-time favorite for that race.

Round 2 = 40 players, 4 races

Round 3 = 20 players, 4 races

Round 4 = 10 players, 4 races

Round 5 = 5 players, 4 races

In rounds 4 and 5, the players must have their selections in each of the four races turned in at 5 minutes to post so they may be announced to the public. The players will be asked to sit at designated tables in front of the room during the running of each race.

If there is a tie at the end of the competition (round 5), a one race playoff will be used to determine the champion only. For the purpose of this playoff, the player who had the highest total from the first two days of competition will be considered the higher seed and have the first choice in selecting a horse for that race. The other finalist must select another horse. The player's horse with the best finish (regardless of overall finish) will be deemed the champion. All remaining ties for the other spots will split the prize money for those respective spots.

Day 3 Consolation Tournament:

The remaining 420 will play in a consolation tournament consisting of 10 - 12 mandatory races with the same scoring as the first two days.

Benefits of the new format

Moving all of the mandatory races to Day 1 means that a higher percentage of the field should be in contention going into Day 2 when the all-optional format will provide for a wide-open day of play;

The consolation tourney on Day 3 for players not in the top 80 provides a nice prize offering to those who have a disappointing first two days of tourney play;

The all-mandatory format for the Final 80 on Day 3 offers an identical array of options for all players;

Allows tourney prize money to be spread among top 100 players (20%) vs. top 10% in previous years;

The progressive elimination tournament leads to a more climatic finish consisting of a "final table" with five players.

We are seeking your input before we finalize the 2012 NHC format.