I’m very excited for the Breeders’ Cup this year, and I think it’s simply because the event is visiting a new venue. I miss the days of the “one-off” tracks like Arlington, Lone Star, Monmouth, Woodbine and, yes, even Aqueduct popping in to the rotation. After a long drought of new faces, we got Keeneland a couple of years ago and now we get Del Mar.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, but I think Del Mar will do a great job. It’s a world-class facility that has one of the nicest physical settings of any racetrack anywhere. I’ve only been there a few times, but from past experience, I also have faith that the Del Mar staff will provide the kind of friendly, attentive service that is, frankly, hit or miss at other tracks.
(One warning: If you will be there, and are the kind of person who enjoys an adult beverage from time to time, you may want to bring extra cash…or do your imbibing after you leave the track. I spent an otherwise delightful day at Del Mar this past Labor Day weekend, but I am still getting over the sticker shock from a 16 oz. can of Coors Light costing $13.50. That was $3.50 more than the Padres charged me the next day for the exact same product at Petco Park. And I doubt Del Mar will be reducing the prices any for Breeders’ Cup!)
Thanks to HorseTourneys, I will be in attendance this year to cover the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge. Once I get acclimated (i.e. once I locate the free water fountains at the track), I will attempt to bring you some of the flavor of the world’s most exciting live-bankroll tournament.
Most of the info will be conveyed via the HorseTourneys Twitter account, but we’ll also try to come through with a blog at the end of each day. If you’ll be playing in the BCBC, and we happen to cross paths, please do say hello. I find contest players tend to be like-minded individuals, and the nicest thing about attending an on-site event is the opportunity to match faces with names.
Here at HorseTourneys, we have our best slate of Breeders’ Cup tournaments ever. But let’s talk a little HorsePlayers first.
If you’re still trying to qualify for the BCBC (or are hoping to add an additional entry to your portfolio), there isn’t much time left…but there’s a little. We have three last-chance BCBC qualifiers on Wednesday:
And the final two on Thursday:
(Reminder that you CAN now play the BCBC from your home computer via TwinSpires.com or Xpressbet.com.)
If the BCBC isn’t going to be your cup of tea, you will still have abundant contest action at your disposal right here at HorseTourneys and HorsePlayers.
On Friday at HorseTourneys, you can play Breeders’ Cup tourneys with buy-in amounts ranging from $339 all the way down to $8. Our big game of the day is a Pool-Style Pick & Pray that will be worth at least $15,000 (guaranteed) but could go as high as $35,000. And we’ll also host a special Horse Player World Series (HPWS) qualifier on Friday.
On Saturday, our top buy-in game is $595 for our Live-format event that will pay out between $50,000 and $75,000 depending on how many sign ups we get. But we’ll also be offering $8 Survivor games, and plenty of other games in between those two extremes. And there will also be direct qualifiers on Saturday for the HPWS, the Del Mar Fall Classic, the Gulfstream Park Caribbean Classic Betting Championship, the Aqueduct Challenge, and the Hawthorne Fall NHC Super Qualifier.
There’s a lot to choose from—and I haven’t even gotten to HorsePlayers yet. There, at HP, you’ll find a pair of NHC qualifiers—a $75 qualifier on Friday and a $165 version on Saturday.
Speaking of Saturday, you will absolutely want to sign up for a totally free contest at HorsePlayers that day offering a trip to the 2018 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs and (and it’s a big “and”) a $10,000 entry to the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge. All you need in order to play is a HorseTourneys or HorsePlayers account (either one will do).
One of the beauties of the Breeders’ Cup—whether you’re playing in a contest or just straight up against the parimutuel pools—is that you are always just one race away from not just a decent day, but a fabulous day. Such is the magic of big, high-quality fields in which excellent horses can and do go off at big prices. Here’s hoping it’s a weekend–and a Breeders’ Cup–to remember for you…no matter where you play it from.
Happy Handicapping (and, oh yeah, Halloween too)…and good luck this weekend!