FAIR GROUNDS TO HOLD NHC QUALIFIER FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

By Grant LaGrange —-

$500,000 Bonus for Any Qualifier Winner Who Also Wins NHC2020

New Orleans, La. (October 24, 2019) – Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack and home to the $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, is set to host an NHC Qualifier on December 21 offering berths to February’s NTRA National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas.

The live-money contest, in which players compete to turn their $1,000 live bankroll into an NHC seat. Fair Grounds will award one berth per every 18 entries to the 21st edition of the NHC held on February 7-9, 2020 at Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel. The NHC is world’s richest and most prestigious handicapping tournament for horseplayers and is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned tournaments.

Registration for contest costs $1,500, with $1,000 going to the starting bankroll and $200 to a cash prize pool for the Qualifier (the remaining $300 goes to the NHC purse and travel). The format will consist of seven mandatory $50 Win-Place wagers and one mandatory $150 Win-Place wager. Players will keep 100 percent of their winnings and the leaders will share in the cash prize pool, with the number of winners and amounts determined (on a sliding scale) by the number of entries. Players are limited to two entries.

“The NHC is thrilled to welcome Fair Grounds back to the 2019 NHC Tour schedule,” said Michele Ravencraft, Senior Director of Events for the NTRA. “New Orleans provides the perfect December venue to compete for one of the few remaining 2020 NHC berths to be awarded this year.”

As an added incentive, a $500,000 bonus will be up for grabs in Las Vegas for any of the Qualifier winners who go on to win #NHC2020.

NHC Tour points, which determine year-end Tour prizes, as well as NHC entry for the top 10 percent of finishers will be awarded in NHC Qualifier.

For more information on the NHC and NHC Tour, visit www.ntra.com/nhc. For more information on entering the Qualifier, contact Michele Ravencraft of the NTRA at mailto:mravencraft@ntra.com.

To make entry payments, as well as other tournament details contact mailto:emilee.margiotta@fgno.com or at (504) 948-115.
When: December 21

Where: Black Gold Room at Fair Grounds

How to Register: Registration will open on November 1, 2019.

Contact mailto:emilee.margiotta@fgno.com or at (504) 948-115.

Registration:

Players must be legal residents of the U.S. or Canada and at least 21 years of age to participate. Contest entry fee is $1,500 per entry of which $1,000 becomes the contestant’s bankroll. Each contestant must register in person with valid government issued identification. Contestants may also register the day of the tournament near the Contest area until post time for the 1st race.

Contest Prize Money (Based on a minimum of 125 entries)

First Place: Entry into the 2020 NHC at Treasure Island Las Vegas (Includes hotel stay and $400 airfare reimbursement) plus $10,000 in Cash

Second Place: Entry into the 2020 NHC at Treasure Island Las Vegas (Includes hotel stay and $400 airfare reimbursement) plus $6,000 in Cash

Third Place: Entry into the 2020 NHC at Treasure Island Las Vegas (Includes hotel stay and $400 airfare
reimbursement) plus $4,000 in Cash

4th – 8th Place: Entry into the 2020 NHC at Treasure Island Las Vegas (Includes hotel stay and $400 airfare reimbursement) plus $1,000 in Cash

Contestants will also receive a complimentary buffet and Brisnet Betting Guide and can bring one guest with them for the day of racing.

About the NHC
The NHC is the most important tournament of the year for horseplayers and is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino race books, off-track betting facilities and horse racing and handicapping websites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. There are no bye-ins to the NHC. Each year, the NHC winner joins other human and equine champions as an honoree at the Eclipse Awards. For more information on the NHC, visit NTRA.com/nhc.

About the NTRA
The NTRA, based in Lexington, Ky., is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 horse racing interests and thousands of individual stakeholders consisting of horseplayers, racetrack operators, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity, welfare and integrity of Thoroughbred racing through consensus-based leadership, legislative advocacy, safety and integrity initiatives, fan engagement and corporate partner development. The NTRA owns and manages the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance; NTRA.com; the Eclipse Awards; the National Horseplayers Championship; NTRA Advantage, a corporate partner sales and sponsorship program; and Horse PAC®, a federal political action committee. NTRA press releases appear on NTRA.com, Twitter (@ntra) and Facebook (facebook.com/1NTRA).

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 148th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 107 th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 28, 2019 through March 29, 2020. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.