NTRA Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) yesterday announced the disqualification of three players from the NHC and NHC Tour for a period of two years. After hearing valuable input from the horseplayer community and others in the industry, the names of those players who colluded are Jordan Jayne, James Pauly, and Ryan Patrick Scully.
“Protecting the integrity of the NTRA and the NHC tournament is among my highest priorities in this job,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “By not initially releasing the names of the players involved, even though our rules give us broad discretion to do so for all prize winners, I believed I was doing what was best for the NHC. The demand from the public we have received far outweighs my personal beliefs. I highly value the opinion of the horseplayers’ community, without whom our sport would not be what it is and whom we work with to protect all NHC-sanctioned contests throughout the year.”
These three players controlled five entries in the 2023 NHC. The event paid out to the top 78 entries. The NTRA has officially disqualified the five entries controlled by these individuals and will proceed to move all other entries up in the prize structure. The entries that finished 79-83 who did not make the initial cut will be moved into the prize structure. Additionally, the NTRA will distribute the difference in prize money for all other entries that move up in the prize structure. The NTRA will mail checks to all individuals involved and the official leaderboard has been updated.
The NTRA followed all processes and protocols in determining the appropriate course of action with respect to the alleged misconduct by the contestants. The NTRA will continue to advance protocols and auditing procedures to ensure a fair and level playing field for the thousands of horseplayers who comprise the NHC Tour and compete at the world’s most prestigious handicapping contest.
