Bio-tech consultant McCarty leads horseplayers championship

Las Vegas 

David McCarty, 78, a bio-technology consultant from San Diego who regularly plays the horses at Del Mar, took an early lead Friday and held it through the end of day 1 in the $3.5 million National Horseplayers Championship.

Competing in his eighth consecutive NHC, McCarty was $162.80 to the good after the 18 mythical $2 win-place wagers that he and the other 508 players had to make Friday. That put him $42.60 clear of second-place Frank Paros, 62, a general contractor from Jupiter, Fla., who has a score of $129.20 is in his first NHC.

Tim Gavin, 67, a retired attorney from Dallas playing in his third NHC, stood third at $120.20. Kevin Smith was in fourth place at $108.50.

Among the former champions, 2019 winner Scott Coles of Mokena, Ill., stood fifth at $106.20. NHC Hall of Famer Judy Wagner, the 2001 champ from New Orleans, was 21st at $96.60.

By way of comparison, the average cut line to be among the 10 percent who qualify for the semifinals the past five years has been a pro-rated $180.99, meaning McCarty might need about a 6-1 or 7-1 winner to feel assured of getting to day 3.

Since the 509 players have a total of 643 entries, the top 64 players through Saturday’s 18 races will qualify to advance to Sunday morning’s semifinals and guarantee themselves $10,000 each. From there the top 10 players will be at the final table Sunday afternoon competing for a minimum $50,000 and a top prize of $725,000.

The tournament staged by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association is being held for the third straight year at Bally’s Las Vegas, which will undergo a name change in the coming year to become Horseshoe Las Vegas.