LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 16, 2021) – Each week, the NTRA will provide a rundown of those who have qualified for the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) the previous weekend. A total of 16 players earned automatic entries into the 2022 NHC from tournaments on Horseplayers.com, Horsetourneys.com and at Keeneland.
The NHC is the most important tournament of the year for horseplayers and is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino race books, off-track betting facilities and horse racing and handicapping websites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. The 2021 NHC is slated take place in the Bally’s Events Center from August 27-29 with the 2022 NHC set for January 28-30 at Bally’s.
Rob Henie, a writer for West Coast Horse Racing and East Coast Horse Racing, has qualified for his second NHC. Rob qualified two entries in 2018.
Linda Rodriguez is a former ballerina, became an avid horseplayer with her partner, David McCarty. This is her seventh time qualifying for the NHC. “Ever since I qualified for the NHC in 2014 at Surfside in Del Mar, I am always excited when I win another entry. The possibility of winning big money keeps bringing me back! I have yet to cash at the NHC but I keep trying and maybe this year is the one.”
Her key wager was in last Friday’s sixth race at Aqueduct when Ajhar paid $33 to win and $10.80 to place. She hit two place wagers and one win bet before Ajhar’s victory, which doubled her score.
“I have always loved horses and horse racing since I was five,” Linda recalls. “My mother would take me to Del Mar racetrack every summer and would ask me who I like in each race . She was convinced I could communicate with horses since I picked so many winners!”
Gary Fenton is the managing partner of Little Red Feather racing. The syndicate was founded when their horse, Singletary, won the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Lone Star Park at 16-1 and the exacta paid over $700. “We built our company, Little Red Feather, from it,” said Fenton. “One horse can change your life.”
Last Saturday, Gary’s winning wager into his fifth NHC was on King Fury in the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes, which paid $38.40.
“This was a bucket list item to try and get into the NHC,” said Fenton. “To make it now five years in a row is an amazing feeling. Being a weekend player, when I walk into the big room for the event it’s an honor just to be around such talented horseplayers. They are the lifeblood of our sport.”
Alan Levitt is a 45-year veteran horseplayer, and an NHC mentor, who earned his second entry for the 2022 NHC. This marks his 13th time qualifying for the coveted tournament. Alan won just three races last Saturday but two of them were at odds of greater than 15-1. Growing up near Roosevelt Raceway in New York and now living close to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Alan is enjoying a big 2021 so far. In addition to NHC qualifying, he made his biggest contest score yet when he captured Flo-Cal Faceoff on Horsetourneys.com earlier this year.
John Twomey of Bradley Beach, NJ is a first-time NHC Tour Member as well as a first-time qualifier for the NHC. John’s big play was a win bet ($12.80) on Mrs. Maisel on last Sunday’s eighth race at Gulfstream Park.
Darren Schweiger has qualified for his first NHC appearance.
Frank Mustari – On gaining entry for his ninth NHC, Frank said, “It is always a good feeling to know that I will have the chance to win $800k by qualifying for the NHC.” A Chicago native, Frank cashed his biggest win in the last race of Saturday’s contest when he made $27K on three big trifectas.
He’s cashed four times in the NHC, with is best finish coming in 2017, when he wound up eighth overall.
Ed Deicke, an NHC Mentor, has qualified for his third NHC. His best finish was 20th place last year.
Marshall Gramm, from Memphis, TN, qualified for his seventh NHC. A Final Table participant, Marshall finished 9th in the 2019 NHC. Since he won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, Marshall is eligible for a $3 million bonus if he can win the NHC in August. An economics professor at Rhodes College, he is also co-managing partner of Ten Strike Racing, which has campaigned a stable that has won 338 races, including stakes winners Dot Matrix, Long on Value and Warrior’s Charge.
Paul Weizer, an NHC Mentor, qualified for his 15th NHC appearance. Paul cashed in 2016, finishing 18th overall. Last weekend, Paul was up $8,800 after two races and then hit on a $400 win bet on Juliet Foxtrot in the Jenny Wiley.
Mark Stanton, of Medford, NJ has qualified three entries into two NHC appearances. He finished 14th in his first NHC appearance, cashing for $22,100.
Rick Broth has qualified annually since 2015. Rick’s best finish was in 2016 when he reached the top 10% and cashed $5,800.
Click here for the full NHC Leaderboard
Click here for upcoming NHC qualifiers
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