The Breeders’ Cup announced Wednesday that horse racing’s biggest live money
handicapping tournament, the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC), will be
held this year on November 4-5 at Churchill Downs. In only its third year, the
Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge will have a prize pool of up to $350,000 based
on 125 players.
The 2011 BCBC will mirror the format of the event’s first two years: players
will bet real money and the one with the highest accumulated bankroll at the end
of the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be the winner. A
$2,500 buy-in and $7,500 betting bankroll ($10,000 total) will be required of
each player. All buy-in monies are applied to the prize pool, plus a
minimum of $25,000 in additional funds provided by Breeders’ Cup and Churchill
Downs. Players make real wagers with their $7,500 bankroll over the two
days and keep all monies earned from their betting.
“The Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge has established itself as the country’s
premier live money contest,” said Kenneth E. Kirchner, president of FalKirk
International and coordinator of the event for Breeders’ Cup Limited. “The
combination of the first class amenities at Churchill Downs, with the excitement
of the Championships, make this a must play event for top horseplayers.”
An important contest element is that up to 29 entries to the Breeders’ Cup
Betting Challenge will be awarded through online qualifying tournaments,
beginning this Saturday (March 5) at www.bcqualify.com. Last year, James
Henry won his entry at bcqualify.com for $100 and then finished second at the
Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, winning more than $78,000.
Among the amenities for each player at the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge are:
Downs finish line will be the contest site, featuring individual betting
carrels, televisions and seating
credentials for themselves and a guest; gift packages and discounted hotel
rooms
125 players)
Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship
The 2010 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge champion was Robert Hansan of Reston,
Virginia, who turned his $7,500 betting bankroll into $44,863. Combined with
the $137,000 first place money, Hansen collected more than $181,000 at the 2010 BCBC. Last year’s top
10 finishers won a combined total of more than $500,000 in
prize money and cash winnings. Additional information on the BC Betting
Challenge can be found at www.bcqualify.com.