Live it Up Challenge winners look ahead to next year’s High Rollers Contest

For Immediate Release                                                                                              March 11, 2026

Live it Up Challenge winners look ahead to next year’s High Rollers Contest

Four talented horse players were able to earn a free buy-in to the $1,000 High Rollers contest in 2027 by playing in this year’s free Live It Up Challenge. Starting back on January 17th, players were required to make mythical win-place-show bets on a couple races from Tampa Bay Downs each racing day up through Tampa Bay Derby day on Saturday March 7th. After all that action, it was Chicago-based player Nancy Spence who took home the top honors, finishing with a bankroll of $518.20.

“I really love the format of the Live it Up Challenge, as it’s challenging to not only try to find a decent price horse that you like, but figuring out which race to pass,” said Spence.

“My goal towards the end of the contest was to just stay alive and beat the obvious favorites. (I actually changed my picks the last morning of because I liked “The Puma” and am very glad I did).

Spence will come to Tampa Bay Downs next February to compete in the High Rollers Contest for a chance to win tens of thousands of dollars.

“I almost fell over when I saw that I had actually won first place. I’m beyond thrilled to be going to Tampa Bay Downs next Feb, especially after this brutal winter in Chicago”

Spence was able to catch up to the leader, New York’s Michael Sola, who used a big win on the first day of the contest to keep himself in position to win all throughout the event.

“For me hitting a $90 horse on day one gave me the confidence to stick to my convictions every day,” said Sola. “I was close or in first from day one right to the last day, although I had a tough beat in the Tampa derby to fall from 1st to 2nd. Hats off to Nancy for winning.”

Rounding out the top 3 was New Jersey native and horseplayer Shawn Heron, who has now qualified for the High Rollers contest through the Live It Up Challenge for a third time since 2016.

“Going into Tampa Bay Derby day on the last day of the contest I was in third place and just need to hold my position, said Heron. “I took #6 Further Ado in The Tampa Bay Derby and when he finished 2nd, I was thrilled that I was going to be in the 2027 High Roller Contest.”

Ron Watson finished in fourth and also qualified for the High Roller contest while player “MikeKul” had the most winners in the virtual contest. The High Roller Contest will once again be conducted in February 2027 with more details to come.