Nelson celebrates birthday with
Twinspires.com Online Handicapping Championship win
James Nelson of Wheeling, Illinois, earned the top prize of $100,000 and a
seat at the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) when taking
Saturday’s TwinSpires.com Online Handicapping Championship. Nelson defeated 226
other tournament players, some with double entries, with his one and only ticket
that totaled $131.70 by the end of the day.
“I didn’t even see the tournament until (Friday) morning,” said Nelson, who
turned 47 on Friday. “I got an email from Twinspires.com informing me of the
contest. I just looked at it and said I want to do this.”
Players either bought into the Championship for $1,000, won their way in
through a series of “last chance” satellite tournaments, the TwinSpires Online
Handicapping Series, or the TwinSpires Leaderboard competition. There was a
maximum of two entries allowed per player for Saturday’s Championship.
Nelson was one of those who bought directly in for $1,000, but he did reserve
himself to just one ticket.
“I think it helped me,” he said. “Rather than having two entries, it kind of
focused me.”
Players had the opportunity to qualify for the Championship all year long by
competing in TwinSpires.com’s Online Handicapping Series. The series allowed
players to compete in lower buy-in tournaments where they could parlay their way
into the Championship for as little as a $10 entry fee. The series also offered
members of the Daily Racing Form‘s NHC Tour an opportunity to earn
maximum tour points.
Nelson wasn’t a member of the NHC Tour, but signed up Friday before
registering for Saturday’s tournament. He said he spent about five hours
handicapping and, by becoming a member of the NHC, earned a berth in the
National Handicapping Championship, which will take place January 27-28 at
Treasure Island, Las Vegas.
“This gave me my chance,” Nelson said of qualifying for the NHC.
Nelson explained he chose horses who were middle to longshot chances, tabbing
those who could go off at odds of 6-1 or higher.
“I’ve been betting horses since I was 15-years old,” he said. “I live right
by Arlington Park, but I’ve been to a lot of tracks around the country. I love
Churchill, Gulfstream and the California tracks.”
Those NHC tour members among the top 20 finishers in Saturday’s tournament
were all awarded an NHC prize package, which included entry to the National
Handicapping Championship and hotel accommodations for three nights at Treasure
Island. If a player who already had an entry in the NHC finished in the top 20,
that person received a Horse Player World Series (HPWS) Prize Package and the
NHC Prize Package was awarded to the next highest eligible player.
Players in Saturday’s tournament who finished 21st-50th all received the
Horse Player World Series Prize Package, which includes entry to the HPWS and
hotel accommodations for four nights at The Orleans in Las Vegas and at least
$500 for travel expenses.
With this tournament win on his record, and the $100,000 grand prize, Nelson
will have a brief break before preparing for the NHC in January.
“I’m trying to take it all in,” he admitted. “I’ll put a little (of the grand
prize) away for a vacation this summer with my daughter and fiancé and her
daughter.”
“James should be extremely proud of taking down this Championship because he
bested one of the toughest fields ever assembled for an online handicapping
tournament,” said Jeremy Clemons, TwinSpires.com Vice President of
Marketing. “Congratulations to James and the other 49 players who won their way
to Las Vegas today on TwinSpires.com.”
More information about the TwinSpires.com Online Handicapping Series and
Saturday’s Championship may be found at
www.twinspires.com.