Kevin Costello. (NTRA Photo)
First horseplayer to ever win the tour twice in its 16-year history
NTRA Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.– Kevin Costello, of Chicago, Illinois, has officially won the 2023 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour, making him the first horseplayer to ever win the tour twice having previously won the 2021 Tour. Costello, who has qualified to the NHC each year since 2016, earned $75,000 for winning the NHC Tour, won a seat to the 2025 NHC, and is eligible for a $5 million bonus if he takes home the grand prize at the 25th NHC March 15-17 at the Horseshoe Las Vegas.
“Eight years ago, I set out with a goal of winning the NHC Tour. I had no idea at the time if I would be capable of doing it,” Costello said. “Although there are other prizes in the tournament world that are more lucrative than the Tour, the Tour always meant something special to me because of the necessity to perform consistently well over the length of a full season. Thankfully in 2021, I had the satisfaction of achieving that goal. To achieve it again in 2023 is a feeling beyond any expectation of which I had previously imagined. As much as I enjoy the sense of accomplishment and the pride I take in my play, it all pales in comparison to the best prize of all that I’ve received in these 8 years, and that is a new community of friends, tournament directors, competitors, and media folks who have enriched my life more than any title or prize money ever could. I very much look forward to seeing everyone in Las Vegas.”
Costello finished the 2023 Tour season with 24,053 points from 31 contests. Michael Mulvihill finished in second place with 22,991 points, Evan Trommer finished in third place with 22,709 points, Sally Goodall finished in fourth place with 22,600 points, and Brett Wiener finished in fifth place with 22,399 points. The complete 2023 Tour results can be found here.
Costello is the only player to have won the tour a second time since it was introduced in 2008. Previous winners of the NHC Tour include: Jay Johns (2022), 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).
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.
Over the past 24 years, nearly 4,000 people have filled more than 10,000 NHC entries and have been awarded nearly $50,000,000 in prizes. This year the NHC will host more than 600 individuals and will award nearly $4 million in cash and prizes. This is the tenth NHC Hall of Fame class to be inducted after being voted on by their peers.
To sign up for the NHC Tour, go to www.ntra.com/membership.
