Will Compete For $5 Million Bonus at March NHC
NHC/NTRA Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Jay Johns, of Meridian, Idaho, has officially won the 2022 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour. Johns, who has been playing in contests for almost two decades, earned $75,000 for winning the NHC Tour and is eligible for a $5 million bonus if he captures a win at the 2023 NHC March 10-12 at the newly rebranded Horseshoe Las Vegas.
“It’s such an honor coming out on top in this yearlong tour against arguably the absolute best handicappers out there. It’s quite a mind challenge on both picking horses and tournament strategy,“ Johns said after learning of his victory. “I finished third last year and was determined to improve on that. I’m just happy I won and a big congrats to all those folks competing with me. They made it difficult and exciting to the very last weekend.”
Johns, the President of IHOP Restaurants (formerly International House of Pancakes), finished the 2022 Tour season with 22,370 points from 34 contests. Trey Stiles finished in second place with 22,019, and Dylan Donnelly finished in third with 21,998 points. Tim Kindlon was the top rookie finisher of the year, coming in with 17,460 points. Kindlon will be honored at the NHC Champions Dinner on Sunday, March 12 with the Jim Nace Award, named in honor of the longtime contest player who passed away in 2019. The top 20 finishers of the 2022 Tour win cash prizes. The complete 2022 Tour results can be found at https://www.ntra.com/nhc/leaders/.
Previous winners of the NHC Tour include: Kevin Costello (2021), Sally Goodall (2020), David Snyder (2019), David Gutfreund (2018), Mike Ferrozzo (2017), Cheryl McIntyre (2016), Jonathon Kinchen (2015), Eric Moomey (2014), Brent Sumja (2013), Mark Streiff (2012), Paul Shurman (2011), Tom Noone (2010), Bryan Wagner (2009) and Sam Brooks (2008).
More than 5500 NHC Tour members participated in 2022 handicapping qualifiers leading to the 2023 NHC, to be held March 10-12 at Horseshoe Las Vegas. The 2023 NHC Tour season begins March 4. To sign up for the 2023 NHC Tour, go to www.ntra.com/membership. For more information on the NHC Tour benefits and to view the official rules go to www.nhctour.com.
The NHC Tour is a yearlong bonus series offering additional prize money and qualifying berths to the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC). Membership in the NHC Tour is mandatory in order for top finishers of sanctioned NHC qualifying events to be eligible to compete in the NHC Finals in Las Vegas. Membership in the NHC Tour is open to adults 21 years of age or older and requires a one-time, annual membership fee of $50. The NHC Tour membership must be in place prior to the start of any given qualifying tournament in order for one to qualify for the NHC Finals at that qualifying tournament.
