2004 Rules

Sports Haven Handicapping Challenge

  1. Entry fee $400 (One entry per person, although in the event that the contest is not fully subscribed by Thursday, February 5, people may purchase an additional entry. People may have no more than two entries)  
  2. Contest is limited to 350 entries. The contest is a two-day event that will be held Saturday, February 7 and Sunday, February 8, 2004.
  3. The top two finishers in the Sports Haven contest will be eligible to compete in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Handicapping Championship tournament to be held in 2005 at a date to be determined in Las Vegas. NV.  Air transportation and hotel accommodations will be paid for by Autotote Enterprises. 
  4. If the contest is fully subscribed, there will be $140,000 in prize money. One hundred percent of the $140,000 will be returned as prize money. 
  5. All prizes are aggregate and if ties exist, prize money will be divided equally by entrants finishing in all positions involved in the tie.
  6. Five thousand dollars will be distributed to the first three finishers after the first day of the contest. The person in first place will receive $3,000.  The second place contestant will receive $1,500 and the third place finisher will receive $500.
  7. On Sunday, there will be a $15,000 one-day contest. The person who accumulates the most contest money on the second day of the contest (Sunday) wins the one-day contest. First prize is $10,000. Second place is $3,000 and third $2,000
  8. The remaining $120,000 will be distributed to the top 25 finishers after the two day event. (Order of finish is determined by combining the Saturday and Sunday scores).
  9. The contest is for a two-day period. The races used will be from Aqueduct, Gulfstream, and the first EIGHT races at Santa Anita.  In the event that a track cancels, a substitute track, determined by the contest judges, will be used.
  10. All entrants must be present to participate in the contest at Sports Haven. There will be no refunds.
  11. Each entry is allowed $2,000 maximum contest wagering dollars per contest day and a maximum of $200 per wager.
  12. Each entrant must make ten bets each day of the contest. Contest wagers must be made in increments of $50. Win, place and show bets only. No exotic wagers.
  13. Each contest wager must be made on one horse for a total wager of $200. The bets must be for win, place and /or show. For example, a person may make a $100 win wager and a $50 place wager and a $50 show wager on one horse in a race. Contest wagers are limited to one horse per race. All multiple wagers per race or multiple horses per race are void and will not be credited or refunded (zero points /dollars). If any wagers are made for less than $200 contest dollars, the remaining amount will be void. For example, if an entrant wagers $100 to win on a horse and fails to wager the remaining $100 of the $200 wager, then $100 will be void. The entrant will only have a $100 bet on the race.
  14. Any unused portion of the $2,000 in daily contest dollars become void once all contest races each day are completed. Any unused wagers will be worth zero dollars and will not be credited or refunded.
  15. Wagers will be accepted at a designated area in Sports Haven. 
  16. The entrant is responsible for ensuring that his entry form is correct. No changes will be allowed after the race involved has been closed.
  17. The winner of the contest is the person who accumulates the most contest dollars for the two day contest.
  18. The decision of the judges in all matters related to the contest is final.
  19. All contestants must be at least 21 years of age.
  20. Autotote reserves the right to fund the entry fees of invited members of the media or other individuals.
  21. Winners are subject to all state and federal tax requirements.
  22. The receipt of a registration form signifies the entrant’s acceptance of all rules and conditions stated herein.
  23. All participants agree to have their name or image appear in any publicity material (posters, newsletters, programs, etc) and to be printed in any publication.
  24. Officers and employees and their immediate families, of Autotote Corporation and its subsidiaries and the employees of the Division of Special Revenue, State of Connecticut, are not eligible to enter the contest.
  25. The right is reserved to terminate, withdraw or modify this contest at any time without prior notice. In this event, all entry fees will be refunded.

Contest Scoring

1.      Net contest dollars will be awarded based on full pari-mutuel pay-offs, up to 20-1. The highest dollars awarded for a win will be $42. (For example, if a horse goes off at 30-1 and pays $62, the player will only be credited with $42). Place pay-offs will be calculated up to 10-1. The highest dollars awarded for place will be $22. Show pay-offs will be calculated up to 5-1. The highest show price will be $12.

2.        Losing wagers will count as zero contest dollars.

NTRA Tie-Breaker

  1. The first two finishers in the $140,000 Sports Haven Handicapping Challenge will qualify for the Daily Racing Form/ National Thoroughbred Racing Association tournament to be held January 2005 in Las Vegas.
  1. In the event that there is a tie for second  place there will be a one- race playoff. The person who wins the playoff will qualify for the NTRA tournament. The playoff will not affect the prize money distribution.
  1. A play-off race will be determined.  There will be a coin flip. The winner of the coin flip will select a horse. The other person will select another horse. The person’s whose horse finishes ahead of the other person’s horse will qualify for the NTRA tournament. In the event that one or both persons are not present at the conclusion of the contest and there is a tie for second, then the contestant with the highest winning pay-off will qualify for the  NTRA tournament. If there is still a tie, then the person who had the most winners will qualify. If there is still a tie, then there will be a coin flip.

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