A dozen Canadian horseplayers are part of a field of 305 contestants competing in this weekend’s $1-million Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Challenge (N.H.C.) at the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa in Las Vegas.
With a grand prize of $500,000 on the line, the exclusive tournament, which is in its 12th year, asks contestants to successfully pick the winner of as many thoroughbred events as possible at eight designated tracks over the Friday and Saturday contest periods.
Team Canada will be looking for its second consecutive score in the contest, which was captured in 2010 by Brian Troop, who resides just outside of Barrie. As the defending champion, Troop automatically received a berth in this year’s contest.
The other 11 Canadians earned their way into the N.H.C. with top finishes at any of 109 on-line or local, NTRA-sanctioned qualifying tournaments held across the United States and Canada. In fact, all six of the Woodbine berths (three at Woodbine’s main Handicapping Challenge, two at the Greenwood Teletheatre and one via Bet Night Live) were won by Canadians.
Toronto’s Michael Cavalaris, Burlington’s Steve Duffield and Hamilton’s Eugene Yacura all qualified for the N.H.C. by finishing in the top three positions in Woodbine’s contest last August.
Peter Behr of London, Ontario and Paul Woods of Newtonville, Ontario, qualified at the Greenwood Teletheatre.
Edmonton, Alberta resident Pat Carrigan, on the other hand, qualified by finishing first in a special contest held during a Monday night broadcast of Bet Night Live on The Score.
“Over the years, I’ve been a fan of the (Bet Night Live/Woodbine Racing Live) program,” he said. “I entered the contest and won it. I nailed a couple of exactors and they stood up.”
Carrigan grew up going to the races with his father and has been a horse racing fan ever since. He said the Bet Night Live contest was the first handicapping contest he had ever entered.
“I’ve been going to the races since I was a very young boy. I’m a fan of the sport – both breeds,” he said. “I’m a horseplayer not a contest player.”
This weekend, his task is to finish the contest with the highest possible bankroll after placing 15 mythical $2 win-and-place bets on Friday and Saturday. Eight of the 15 races on each day are mandatory races that each contestant must play.
While totally new to the format, Carrigan said he likes the structure.
“Discipline has never been my strong suit,” he laughed. “I like the idea of being limited to playing a two-dollar win-and-place bet in each race. From that perspective, I’m optimistic.”
Finding longshots in the optional races will be key, according to Carrigan, who relies on a few different approaches to come up with picks.
“I believe in quality people – trainers and jockeys that are successful,” he explained. “That’s a key part of each individual racetrack. I’m never afraid of an inexperienced horse. I like horses in maiden races that haven’t proved how good they are yet, as opposed to the slugger that’s been in there for 8 or 10 times and hasn’t won.”
Originally from Stoney Creek, near Hamilton, Carrigan moved out west in 1981. A successful executive in the construction rental business, he is an avid golfer and father of four adult-aged sons.
Carrigan has visited Las Vegas on many occasions for business and pleasure. This weekend, he’ll be in Nevada with a small cheering section.
“We’re going to make a fun weekend out of it,” he said. “My brother and sister-in-law and a couple of other friends are going down as well.”
Carrigan considers himself more of a casual fan of the races, but since winning the Bet Night Live contest last fall he’s made a point of following the sport a bit more closely.
“This trip has added some focus,” he said. “I’ve been watching the thoroughbreds, particularly on the weekends, and been paying attention to what’s going on at the eligible tracks. It’s going to take a little luck, but why not me?”
Contest updates will be available on the Internet throughout the two-day contest at both http://www.ntra.com/ and http://www.drf.com/.
Canadians in Las Vegas for the NHC:
John Arendt, Aldergrove, British Columbia, qualified at Emerald Downs Brad Auger, Richmond, British Columbia, qualified online NHCQualify.com Peter Behr, London, Ontario, qualified at Greenwood Teletheatre Pat Carrigan, Edmonton, Alberta, qualified at Woodbine – Bet Night Live Michael Cavalaris, Toronto, Ontario, qualified at Woodbine Steve Duffield, Burlington, Ontario, qualified at Woodbine Tommy Massis, Toronto, Ontario, qualified at NTRA (October 9) Peter Milburn, Burnaby, British Columbia qualified at Emerald Downs Brian Troop, Barrie-area, returns as defending champion 2010 Sheldon Usprech, Thornhill, Ontario, qualified at NTRA (October 9) Paul Woods, Newtonville, Ontario, qualified at Greenwood Teletheatre Eugene Yacura, Hamilton, Ontario, qualified at Woodbine
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