The menu at HorseTourneys is never static. As seasons change, so do race meets and upcoming onsite tournaments. In addition to organic change, however, we like to generate our own positive change in terms of increased purses and exciting new formats. The upcoming weekend is a good example of that.
We get started right away this weekend on Friday with our featured cash game now set as a Pool-Style Pick & Pray with a minimum purse of $6,000 Guaranteed and the potential for it to grow as high as $10,000 depending on participation.
The entry fee is the same as our old Friday featured cash game–$190—and contest races will be the 8th and 10th from Saratoga; the 4th through 8th at Woodbine; and the first three races from Del Mar—10 races in all.
In the category of fairly new but not brand new are our $50 qualifiers at HorsePlayers. These have quickly become very popular and Friday brings a $50 NHC qualifier to the docket.
Two packages are guaranteed and contest races are the same as those for the $6,000-$10,000 game.
On Saturday, a trio of special new offerings are scheduled:
Our featured cash game is newly set at an aggressive $25,000 Guaranteed.
The winner gets $12,500 and cash prizes are paid to the top eight. It’s a live-format game and contest races (for this and Saturday’s other featured events) are the 6th, 8th and 9th from Ellis, the 7th, 9th and 10th from Saratoga, the 8th and 10th from Woodbine and the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th from Del Mar.
Another new offering is a “Lower Ratio” NHC live-format qualifier with two seats guaranteed. This event carries a slightly higher-than-usual entry fee of $240 but one package will be awarded per each 45 entries, rather than one per 65.
Saturday also features live-format qualifiers to the Monmouth Super Qualifier (Last Chance for this one!) on August 26, and the Orleans Fall Classic (entry only) on October 5-7.
Over at HorsePlayers on Saturday, there are a pair of featured contests—one tried and true, one (fairly) new. (Both are Pick & Prays.)
The fairly new one is the Low Ratio Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge qualifier with one in 23 entries at $500 each earning a $10,000 entry. The tried and true one is the traditional BCBC qualifier for $179 and one in 65 earning a $10,000 entry. One entry is guaranteed to be awarded in each tournament regardless of participation. And, yes, you can play in both and try to win two BCBC entries if you so choose.
Sunday offers our most extensive featured schedule of the weekend, with nine marquee tournaments, including eight at HorseTourneys.
Cash game regulars will quickly notice that our top Sunday cash game has had its purse elevated to $15,000 Guaranteed. The entry fee is still $195, but prizes will now be paid to 7th place, with $7,000 going to the victor.
Also new is our first qualifier for the 2017 Santa Anita Autumn Championship. One in 25 entries (at $255 each) will earn a $5,000 entry plus $500 for travel to the Oct. 7-8 live-bankroll competition.
You may also wish to compete in one or more of our five other top-level direct qualifiers on Sunday. For entry fees ranging from $87-$550, you can win your way into The BIG One (two all-inclusive packages guaranteed), the big-money Pegasus World Cup Betting Championship in late January, the popular Keeneland NHC/BCBC Challenge on October 15, the Woodbine Mile Handicapping Tournament on September 16, and the important HorsePlayer World Series (entry only) on March 8-10. Each of these five qualifiers will be run in live-format mode this week.
Also in live format (as always) is our $3,500 Guaranteed Exacta tourney where the top three-horse-box handicapper will win $1,400 (prizes paid to 5th, entry fee: $72).
Last but far from least is a Sunday Pick & Pray at HorsePlayers for the most prestigious tournament of them all.
Two seats are guaranteed in this $165 competition that can punch your ticket to Treasure Island next February.
You may also want to play an entry or two in our Saturday Night Live tourney, which this week gets under way at 8:25 p.m. ET and includes Arrogate in the Pacific Classic from Del Mar (post time 8:30 p.m. ET). Indiana Downs and Charles Town will provide this contest’s races, along with Del Mar.
Best of luck to you whichever tourneys you decide to play. And special good wishes also go out to our HorseTourneys qualifiers taking part in this weekend’s Indiana Downs NHC Qualifier (Saturday), the Laurel Champions Tourney (Saturday, with a package to The BIG One among the available prizes) and the 100% payback Ellis Park Bluegrass Tournament with four NHC seats up for grabs.
Enjoy another great summer weekend of racing and, while you’re at it, buckle your seatbelts for next Saturday’s $100,000 Guaranteed tourney (our first-ever $100,000 event.) Low-cost feeders are available all weekend long for as little as $34.
Good luck to everyone!