Last year’s Last Chance/First Chance contest yielded a record 32 seats for the weekend’s NHC and a record 1,002 registrations (a 13% increase over last year’s record). For horse players who want one last chance to compete for the biggest cash prize in thoroughbred racing and an Eclipse Award, the Last Chance/First Chance contest is their last chance. For those already qualified, it is a way to earn a second entry into NHC 2026. And for those who already have the maximum two entries into this year’s NHC, the ‘Last Chance/First Chance’ offers the opportunity to secure a place at the 2027 NHC.
The top five places in the Last Chance/First Chance competition are guaranteed a qualifying spot for #NHC2026, provided they are currently members of the NHC Tour 2025. For every 20 entries over the first 140 entries, one additional NHC qualifying spot will be awarded. The top 10 finishers will receive cash prizes based on the Prize Money Structure Sheet, which will be provided once the final number of entries has been determined.
The ‘Last Chance/First Chance’ competition features races from a list of eligible tracks and the tournament format requires participants to place a total of 11 mythic WIN/PLACE bets (four mandatory races and seven player’s choice). The $600 entry fee must be paid in full prior to participating in the tournament. Players can register in person at the Paris Race and Sports Book or online at NTRA.com (registration closes Wednesday, March 11 at 8:00 PM PT). Entrants can purchase up to four entries for the Last Chance/First Chance competition. You can find the complete competition rules here NTRA.com.
To register for the NHC Tour, visit www.ntra.com/membership.
About the NHC
The NHC is the premier tournament of the year for horseplayers and is the culmination of a years-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments hosted by racetracks, casino racebooks, off-track gambling facilities, and horse racing and handicapping websites, each of which sends their best qualifiers to the national finals. There are no bye-ins for the NHC. Each year, the NHC winner is honored along with other human and equine champions at the Eclipse Awards and is named Equestrian of the Year. For more information about the NHC, please visit www.nhc.nl NTRA.com/nhc.
About the NTRA
The NTRA, based in Lexington, Ky. and Washington, DC, is a broad coalition of more than 100 horse racing interests and thousands of individual stakeholders, consisting of horse players, 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 business partner development. For more information visit NTRA.com.
#Registration #Opens #National #Horseplayers #Championship #ChanceFirst #Chance #Competition