A series of free weekly contests will send two lucky subscribers to the 2025 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC).
Equibase, the official racing database for the industry, and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) have announced the "Race to the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC)," a special series of 25 free handicapping contests exclusively for Race Lens subscribers. Race Lens is Equibase's interactive past performance product.
These weekly contests will culminate in the "Race Lens Final 50," an end-of-season qualifier that will award two Race Lens subscribers a trip to the 2025 NHC in Las Vegas, scheduled for March 14-16, 2025. All contests will be hosted on Horseplayers.com, the official online qualifying platform for the NHC and the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge.
"We’ve had a great partnership with the NTRA over the years, and we’re thrilled to offer this opportunity to our Race Lens customers," said Equibase President and COO Kyle McDoniel. "We hope those who haven’t yet tried Race Lens or who are currently inactive subscribers will take advantage of this unique chance."
The "Race to the NHC" kicks off on September 7 on Horseplayers.com and will run every Saturday through February 15, 2025, with an additional contest date. The top two contestants from each weekly contest will qualify for the Race Lens Final 50, set for February 22. The top two finishers from the Race Lens Final 50 will earn a spot in the NHC, including a four-night stay at the Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas and a $500 travel voucher, courtesy of Race Lens. Those who finish third through seventh will win entries into the Last Chance/First Chance contest, which will also be held at the Horseshoe Casino prior to the NHC.
The weekly "Race to the NHC" contests are free for Race Lens customers who hold a monthly, quarterly, or annual subscription. Special pricing on all Race Lens subscriptions is available. Participants in the Race Lens Final 50 must be members of the NHC Tour to qualify for the NHC entry berth.
"We're excited to partner with Equibase on this contest series, which offers Race Lens customers an engaging way to participate in NHC contest play," said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. "The NTRA is always looking to provide horseplayers with more opportunities to qualify for the NHC, and with Race Lens, we hope both new and experienced players will seize this chance to win a seat at NHC 2025 in Las Vegas."