Meet The Newest DerbyWars $100K Winner

Another $100,000 DerbyWars Game winner was crowned on Saturday - Richard Grose of Wentzville, Missouri!

Grose, who plays under the name "Slim", topped a full field of 133 players to take down the $50,000 First Prize. His final score of $148.40 included the second-place finishers of all three major Kentucky Derby preps on Saturday - Tencendur in the Wood Memorial, Danzig Moon in the Blue Grass, and One Lucky Dane in the Santa Anita Derby. 

Recognizing value plays is key to winning contests, and Grose had it figured out in the $100K!

"I wrote my own (computer) program 12 years ago," said Grose. "After downloading the data files, it analyzes the pace of the race and matches up running styles that might fit the pace. If I can narrow it down to 2-3 horses, I watch the odds, and go with the best value. As you know sometimes races don't quite turn out the way we plan them, but  it just so happens enough races went my way this tournament."

Grose got his start in racing as the designated driver for his stepfather's forays to Fairmount Park. "They use to have a blast drinking beer and betting horses," said grose. "Both endeavors seemed like fun to me, so when I became of age (or close to it), I took up both. In 2000, I slowed down on the beer, and sped up on the horses."

He caught the contest bug in 2003, when he went out for the NHC for the first time. Grose has qualified for the NHC eight times, with a career-best finish of 4th place in 2013 after leading the game after the first day!

"Have been told my day 1 is still the largest 1 day total ever for the tournament dating back to 1999," he said.

Contests are not his only big scores - Grose is one of the few people to cash big on the most unlikely Kentucky Derby winner in decades:

"I will always remember Calvin Borel for winning the 2009 Kentucky Derby. I had bet Mine That Bird to win and he won and paid $103.20. I still believe that was one of the best rides ever in a Kentucky Derby. Calvin broke bad on the sloppy track, passed virtually the entire field, coming up the rail and winning by 6 lengths. Calvin, more than any other jockey  truly understands what Archimedes quoted 'the shortest distance between 2 points is the rail'." 

Runner-up in Saturday's contest was Stephen Thompson (Undertaker), with a final score of $139.40. Thompson wins $20,000 for his second-place finish. Third place winner was JT (Taytay) from Central Texas with a final score of $116.10 for the $10,000 prize. Shilo Merwitz (Graywolf357) gets $5,000 for his $114.10 score. The top four all win entry into the next $100K game, which will be announced soon! 

"I really do not have any plans for the winnings yet," said Grose. "I guess my wife and I could  give our families some money, give extra to the church,and pay down on our mortgage, or I could do the responsible thing and step up my bets and play more tournaments.... no... we will probably give some monies to our church and  families, and pay down our mortgage with the rest!"