August weekends are always big at HorseTourneys and especially when they involve NHC qualifiers. But first things first.
Our Friday prelude to Saturday’s NHC bonanza comes in the form of a pair of nice, guaranteed cash games: a $5,000 multi-track game that pays to 4th and has $2,500 reserved for the winner. And a $1,000, Saratoga-races-only event paying down to 7th with $425 to the winner. Again, these games are both guaranteed, so value hawks will want to be watching entries for these two very closely.
Saturday’s highlight, of course, is our NHC qualifier with three seats guaranteed and a fourth possibly available depending on participation. Winners receive a seat, hotel plus $1,000 in travel…all for just a $160 entry fee. You won’t find a lower takeout rate/price point at any non-ADW NHC qualifying site.
There’s also a $97 live-format qualifier for a full package to the Orleans Fall Classic with winners getting a $500 entry plus $750 in travel.
Cash game specialists have two great options to pick from: our $25,000 Guaranteed game (live format) that pays down to 8th with $12,500 up top for just $260 (representing an industry-low 9.3% takeout)…and/or our $12,500 Guaranteed Pick & Pray that day for $195 that pays to 6th and reserves $6,250 for the winner.
There’s also a Pick & Pray feeder to the following day’s The BIG One qualifier for $106. One of every five players will advance to the following day’s $478 gateway game.
Here’s a more visual summary of Saturday’s prime events:
Sunday’s marquee game (as you probably surmised) is our The BIG One qualifier (a Pick & Pray). With 40 of 50 online seats already spoken for, there are now only 10 seats left to be won here for this high-expectation event at Laurel on Sept. 24-25.
Also on tap for Sunday is an entry-only, Pick & Pray qualifier to next year’s Horse Player World Series for $87.
Though cash gamers may prefer our $7,500 Guaranteed Pick & Pray game paying to 5th with $3,750 to the winner for $190…or our live-format $1,500 Guaranteed Exacta Box game where you get to pick three horses per race (a three-horse box) instead of one. This tourney carries a price point of just $54 with prizes down to 5th and $600 to the victor. As mentioned many times in the past, these exacta box games are a lot of fun. There are no price caps and you just never feel like victory is ever out of reach.
Here is an info-packed peek at some of Sunday’s top games:
We also want to give you an early heads-up that our first qualifier for the Del Mar Fall Classic will take place a week from Sunday on August 28. Winners (1 per 25) will receive a $4,000 entry plus $500 in travel reimbursement. Cost for the August 28 direct qualifier is $212 and between now and then we are running feeders to August 28 for just $47.
Whichever tourneys you choose this weekend, we wish you good fun and good racing luck!