Chris Inman (pictured with his father) finished in first place in the Last Chance/First Chance Contest, winning his second seat in #NHC2024 and taking home $23,840. (NHC Photo)
Meet Kevin Costello, the only player playing for a $5 MILLION DOLLAR BONUS:
Record Last Chance First Chance Participation on Thursday
NTRA Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The final chance to qualify for the 25th National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) this weekend March 15-17, 2024, yielded a record 31 seats into this weekend’s contest which begins Friday morning at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. Chris Inman of Houston, Texas won his second seat into the 25th NHC and took home the grand prize of $23,840. Five berths to #NHC2024 were guaranteed, with an additional spot added for every 20 entries beyond 140. Thursday’s contest saw a record 884 entries, a more than 17% increase above last year’s previous record of 752. 152 entries played for nine NHC berths for the 2025 NHC.
Chris Inman, a 5th and 7th grade math teacher, finished on top of the field with a bankroll of $159.00. Inman is here at the NHC with his dad and uncle and says, “it’s great to have them here. We don’t golf, we don’t really fish – so this is our thing, we’re horseplayers.” His fourth time at the NHC, Inman says his favorite part about the event is the camaraderie. “I play in a handful of contests throughout the year, but it’s nice to see everyone, rub elbows with guys, and cheer each other on.”
On his approach for today Chris said, “I had several entries, so early on I was trying to play longer shots. I was lucky enough to pair up a few longer shots early on and it all went from there.”
The top 10 finishers shared in the cash prize pool equal to 30% of entry fees, with the balance of entry fees going to the NHC prize pool. Total cash prizes awarded were $132,600. Runner up Kevin Engelhard ended the day with a bankroll of $139.00 and took home $21,489. Third place went to 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee Brett Wiener with a bankroll of $136.64 earning him $19,138. Full leaderboard results can be found here.
Kicking off Friday, the NHC, presented by Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe Las Vegas, and Racetrack Television Network (RTN), is the world’s richest and most prestigious handicapping contest. This year’s competition will feature 765 entries competing for an estimated $4.5 million in cash and prizes.
The 25th NHC is presented by Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe Las Vegas, and RTN and is supported by official partners Daily Racing Form, EquinEdge, Crown’s Way Racing, and Race Lens. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is the official charity of the NHC.
New to the 25th NHC will be a Final Table livestream, co-hosted by Steve Byk and Rick Hammerle, that will be streamed on NTRA’s X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Website for the final seven races of the Championship on Sunday March 17. Interested spectators will have the ability to watch and listen to the action unfurling all weekend long at the NHC. Rachel McLaughlin, Racing Analyst at Horseshoe Indianapolis, will be providing coverage throughout the weekend on all NTRA social media platforms.
Additionally, At the Races with Steve Byk will broadcast live on SiriusXM satellite radio (Sirius 219; XM 201) from the Horseshoe Las Vegas and online at www.stevebyk.com daily, from 9-12 p.m. ET/6-9 a .m. PT on Friday and Monday, with bonus NHC coverage at www.SteveByk.com/listen-live-SiriusXM slated for 2-8 p.m. ET/11 a.m.-5 p.m. PT next Friday-Sunday. America’s Best Racing and Hawthorne Race Course will also be streaming live from the event.
The tournament format for the NHC is meant to be the best possible test of picking winners. Players attempt to earn the highest possible bankroll based on mythical $2 Win/Place wagers. Assigned “mandatory” races – six per day on Day 1, eight per day on Day 2, and seven at the Final Table – are announced at least 24 hours prior to each contest day via direct e-mail to players and publicly on Twitter (@NTRA) and NTRA.com.
The NHC field will be reduced to the top 10% of players after the first two days. The highest ten cumulative scores after the Semifinal round on Sunday morning will fill out the Final Table. Bankrolls amassed during Day 1, Day 2 and the Semifinals round will roll over to the Final Table, with the 10 finalists settling the NHC score in seven “mandatory” assigned races.
Also new to the 25th NHC program will be the Silver Sunday Contest, 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 Sunday, March 17 on 10 optional and seven mandatory races (the seven mandatory races will coincide with the NHC Final Table). The top 25 highest bankrolls, including ties, will receive a share of $100,000 in prize money. The top five highest finishers will win an entry into the 2025 NHC and the top 10% will receive on track 2024 NHC Tour points. A “First Five” free-to-play online contest will be available to non-NHC participants and will offer five berths to the 2025 NHC. Full contest rules can be found on ntra.com.
All information on the 25th NHC can be found at www.ntra.com/nhc including the 2024 full schedule of events, the 2024 Official Rules, and more. To sign up for the 2024 NHC Tour and win your way to next year’s NHC visit to www.ntra.com/membership.
