National Horseplayers Championship features new Sunday contest
The 25th National Horseplayers Championship kicks off in one month and will be bigger than ever before. With more than 700 entries and nearly $4 million in cash and prizes, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association introduced a new facet of the competition, the Silver Sunday contest, which will be held on March 17.
This contest will replace the Sunday consolation contest, where only entries that did not make the semifinal round would participate in a 10-race contest for prize money.
The Silver Sunday contest will be available to all individuals competing in the tournament with no entry fee. Every individual will receive a maximum of one entry and will have to place mythical win-place bets throughout March 17 on 10 optional and seven mandatory races. The seven mandatory races will coincide with the NHC final table.
The 25 highest bankrolls, including ties, will receive a share of $100,000 in prize money. The five highest finishers will win an entry into the 2025 NHC, and the top 10 percent will receive on-track 2024 NHC Tour points. Full contest rules can be found at ntra.com.
Additionally, a separate online contest consisting of the seven mandatory races that compose the 2024 NHC final table will be offered online on March 17 to NHC non-qualifiers only and will offer five berths to the 2025 NHC as well as tour points.
Both the Silver Sunday contest and the online contest for non-NHC qualifiers will be free to play and limited to one entry per individual. Both contests will require a 2024 NHC Tour Membership in advance of the start of the contests.
The NHC features more than 600 top horseplayers competing for an estimated $4 million in cash and prizes. All qualifiers will receive a complimentary four-night stay at the Horseshoe Las Vegas and travel reimbursements, which total more than $1 million. The complete field and total prize breakdown will be finalized following the Last Chance-First Chance Contest, held Thursday on the eve of the NHC.