1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70119 www.fairgroundsracecourse.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian W. Spencer, Racing Analyst/Racing Communications, 504.948.1233, brian.spencer@fgno.com
FAIR GROUNDS TO HOST DRF/NTRA NATIONAL HANDICAPPING CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER DECEMBER 20; OTB CHALLENGE SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 8
NEW ORLEANS (Wednesday, October 29, 2014) – Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will play host to the Fair Grounds Championship handicapping tournament on December 20, 2014 that will offer two paid berths into the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship. The 16th annual NHC is scheduled for January 23-25, 2015 at Treasure Island Casino in Las Vegas.
Contest entries will cost $200 per entry, with a maximum of three entries per person. A $50 NHC Tour registration fee will be required of any player wishing to be eligible to win one of the two available NHC berths; players already registered for the NHC Tour will be exempt from the additional $50 fee. A complimentary lunch, race day program and Daily Racing Form will be included in the entry fee.
The contest will consist of 15 races and a $60 mythical bankroll. Players will be required to “wager” $2 to win and $2 to place on one horse in each of the 15 races which will include a mix of mandatory and optional races. The final ten races on the Fair Grounds card on December 20 will be considered mandatory races, and players will be able to select any five races of their choice from the last five live races at Gulfstream Park and the last five races at Aqueduct as their optional plays. Players may mix races from Gulfstream Park and Aqueduct as they see fit to reach their maximum five optional plays.
A cap will be placed on all payoffs. The win cap is 20/1 ($42), and the place cap is 10/1 ($22). Players do not have to place all 15 wagers to be eligible to win, but should a player elect not to make a wager on any of the races, the $4 for that race will still be deducted from their account. All wagers are fictional and only contest account credit is accrued from winning wagers; no money is paid on contest wagers.
The top two finishers will receive a paid berth into the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas January 23-25, 2015, along with a four night hotel stay at Treasure Island Casino and a $400 travel voucher. Third place will receive $750 cash, and both the fourth and fifth-place finishers will receive $400. Additional cash prizes may be available based on the total number of contest entries.
Pre-registration for the Fair Grounds Championship begins November 20. Walk-up registrations will be taken until one hour before the post time of the first contest race on December 20. Players can pre-register by calling Katherine at (504) 948-1230 or Lindsay at (504) 948-1171 beginning at 11 a.m. on November 20. All players will need to provide a valid government issued ID on the day of the contest to complete registration.
Fair Grounds OTB Challenge
The Fair Grounds OTB Challenge is scheduled for November 8 and offers two players the opportunity to gain free entry into the Fair Grounds Championship ($250 value). The entry fee for the Fair Grounds OTB Challenge is $10 with a maximum of three entries per player. Players are eligible to compete at any of the 11 Fair Grounds off-track betting facilities and at the Fair Grounds OTB.
The contest format will mirror that of the Fair Grounds Championship, but with ten races and a $40 mythical bankroll. Players will be required to “wager” $2 to win $2 to place on one horse in each of the 10 races which will include a mix of mandatory and optional races. The final six races from Churchill Downs will be considered mandatory races, and players may select any four races of their choice from the last four live races at Gulfstream Park West and the last four races at Aqueduct. Players may mix races from Gulfstream Park West and Aqueduct as they see fit to reach their maximum four optional plays. The payoff caps and rules regarding fictional wagers applied in the Fair Grounds Championship will also apply in the OTB Challenge.
The first-place finisher will receive a paid berth into the Fair Grounds Championship along with 60% of entry fees collected, and the second-place finisher will receive a paid berth into the Fair Grounds Championship along with 20% of entry fees collected. Third place receives 10% of entry fees collected, and both the fourth and fifth-place finishers will each receive 5% of entry fees collected.
Pre-registration for the Fair Grounds OTB Challenge begins Sunday, November 2 at 11:00 a.m. at any Fair Grounds OTB and at the Fair Grounds Race Course OTB and continues until one hour before post time of the first contest race on November 8.
Complete rules and additional information for the Fair Grounds Championship and the Fair Grounds OTB Challenge can be found at www.fgno.com.
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 143rd Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 102nd running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 2014 through March 2015. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.
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