News & Barn notes

Registration Open For June 1 Pick Your Prize Handicapping Challenge; 25 NHC Seats, 6-Plus BCBC Seats, Cash Prizes Up For Grabs

May 22, 2024

Registration is now open for Monmouth Park’s $2,000 Pick Your Prize Handicapping Challenge on Saturday, June 1 – an event that has evolved into one of the country’s biggest handicapping contests.

The innovative handicapping tournament has solidified itself as a can’t-miss-event in the contest world. In each of the Past two years, Pick Your Prize has awarded 25 seats to the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas – an all-time record among contests. Based on its record 299 entries, the 2023 version of Pick Your Prize also awarded eight Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) seats and nearly $100,000 in cash as part of its nearly $300,000 prize pool.

Pick Your Prize can be played on-site at Monmouth Park or online through contest ADWs Xpressbet, Fanduel and 4NJBETS. Fanduel and 4NJBETS participants must pre-register by noon Eastern on Friday, May 31. Xpressbet players may pre-register or sign up directly through Xpressbet up until 12:50 p.m. on contest day. Per contest rules there is a maximum of two entries per person.

To pre-register, players should contact contest director Brian Skirka at 732-571-6595 or bskirka@monmouthpark.com.

“We created Pick Your Prize to introduce a new model of prize selection into the contest world – a literal choice,” Skirka said. “To have reached 299 entries is something we never thought possible, but it’s due to the continued support of contest players across the country. While 299 entries were never in our wildest dreams, it’s now the driving factor to surpass 300. We believe Pick Your Prize is the year’s best NHC qualifying opportunity – while also offering numerous BCBC and cash options

“We’re looking forward to another fantastic contest.”

A player’s $2,000 buy-in is broken down into a $1,000 bankroll and $1,000 to the prize pool. All players must bet a minimum of five races at $200 apiece. Win, place, show, exacta and doubles are permitted. All Monmouth Park live races make up the wagering menu.

In addition to the main event on June 1, Pick Your Prize weekend will also consist of a second tournament on Sunday, June 2. The $300 on-site-only contest will award a 2025 NHC seat to the Top 2 finishers and cash prizes to the Top 10.

“The Sunday contest is a tip of the cap to our on-site Pick Your Prize players,” Skirka said. “Those players now have two opportunities to qualify for the NHC in the same weekend. It also gives our local players a lower-bankroll contest option.”

For players looking to win their win into the Pick Your Prize Handicapping Challenge, weekly feeder contests are currently available on www.horsetourneys.com. New Horsetourneys players can use code MONMOUTH24 at registration to receive $20 in site credit.

Players looking to make a hotel reservation for the contest weekend are recommended to contact the Doubletree Tinton Falls/Eatontown, the Sheraton Eatontown, the Holiday Inn Express West Long Branch or the Homewood Suites in Eatontown. All hotels are located within 10 minutes of the track. Promo codes for all hotels are available at www.monmouthpark.com/partner-hotel.

In total, Monmouth Park will host over 10 NHC qualifiers throughout 2024.  A full list of contest dates and rules can be found at www.monmouthpark.com.