Arlington Park to offer handicapping contest
Arlington Park will introduce its first handicapping contest for its live racing during the 2008 meet, which begins May 2.
The new Arlington Handicapping Challenge will feature cash prizes and the chance to qualify for the championship round on Sept. 13. Contestant must purchase a $100 wagering card at the Twin Spires Club on day of each contest, and use that limit to enter five races and a chance to claim other prizes.
"We wanted to add additional opportunities for our everyday players to have a chance to win their way into the major Las Vegas handicapping tournaments," said Wesley Ward, manager of marketing and advertising for Arlington Park. "The AHC is a particularly attractive option since there is no entry fee into the contest as the $100 contest card players purchase is actually their live bankroll for the contest."
In the Arlington contest, players will have the flexibility to wager in more pools (Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta) than in most other contests, and have freedom to participate from any location within the track as there is no need for assigned contest wagering windows. However, all wagers must be made using the contest card at self service terminals only. Players must play five races from Arlington Park, and play a minimum of $20 per race. They may invest winnings into future wagers.
Players will compete for individual qualifying-round contest prize pools of $875 each and the right to enter the Sept. 13 championship. Players that qualify for the Championship will compete for bragging rights as "Arlington Park Handicapper of the Year" and a prize pool of $13,000, and one NTRA/DRF National Handicapping Contest berth and berths in Coast Casino's Horseplayer World Series.
Each qualifying contest will award three berths in the Arlington Handicapping Championship Contest. Players are encouraged to play in as many qualifying contests as possible as their bankroll totals at the end of each contest will be combined for a season score. The top 125 players who fail to win automatic berths into the finals, will qualify for the Championship contest and compete for its prizes.
The Arlington Handicapping Challenge brings Arlington's Las Vegas contest contingent up to 24 players, with eight NTRA/DRF spots distributed between fall and spring NTRA/DRF qualifiers; one NTRA/DRF spot as grand prize in the AHC; five Coast Casino's Horseplayer World Series spots to runners-up in the AHC; and 10 Coast Casino's Horseplayer World Series spots to be awarded as part of a Trackside OTB live money contest to debut this Fall.
For complete contest rules, visit www.arlingtonpark.com.