The NTRA Nationwide Horseplayers Championship (NHC) is approaching, with the twenty seventh annual occasion scheduled for March 13-15 at Horseshoe Las Vegas. The NHC is a $4 million handicap match open solely to gamers who win or qualify for high finishes in feeder contests held on-line or at numerous racetracks and racebooks all year long.
In case you’re a match participant nonetheless on the lookout for an NHC spot in February 2026, you will be completely satisfied to know that you simply nonetheless have an opportunity to qualify for the 2026 NHC Finals in Las Vegas.
Final-minute scrambles for NHC spots are usually not a brand new phenomenon, because the urgency to enter the NHC subject, which attracts round 800 entries this time of yr, is rising. For that reason, there are some last-minute contests that cater on to hopefuls who’re nonetheless attracting outdoors consideration.
Feeder websites HorseTourneys.com and HorsePlayers.com nonetheless have on-line contests, however a number of places will quickly offer “final likelihood” tournaments.
Check out this yr’s provides for these trying to qualify for the NHC in Las Vegas. When you have already certified for the 2026 NHC, a few of these tournaments may also be performed as a “first likelihood” alternative to qualify. subsequent NHC finals. In different phrases, you might be one of many first to qualify for the 2027 NHC.
Nonetheless attempting to attain a ticket to the upcoming NHC? Maintain studying for an outline of the most important Final Probability qualifying tournaments remaining on the calendar. I want you all the very best. We look ahead to seeing you in Las Vegas.
February Twentieth-Twenty first
Tampa Bay Downs Excessive Curler Handicapping Contest
The entry charge for the Excessive Curler Handicap Contest on the monitor at Tampa Bay Downs is $1,000, which features a $500 entry charge and $500 towards a participant’s dwell contest bankroll. The highest two total will qualify for the NHC in 2026 or 2027. The day by day winners from Days 1 and a couple of of the match may also qualify for the NHC. The highest gamers on the two-day leaderboard will win $32,000 in prize cash (based mostly on 100 entries). The format of the competition is $50 wagers (restricted to wins, locations, and exhibits) in 10 races, 5 on Friday and 5 on Saturday. The participant with the best earnings would be the winner, and the day by day and total leaderboards shall be mirrored on each days. The $1,000 buy-in ends on February Twentieth at 11am. Please name 813-855-4401 ext. 1368 to enter by cellphone.
February Twenty first
Monmouth Park $300 Final Probability NHC Qualifier
Monmouth Park is the chief in internet hosting NHC qualifying tournaments on the monitor all year long, so it is no shock that Monmouth would host one of many NHC’s most prestigious final likelihood tournaments simply earlier than the deadline for the 2026 major occasion. Monmouth Park’s $300 Final Probability NHC Qualifier is an on-track contest with a $300 buy-in that features a $150 entry charge and a $150 dwell contest bankroll (most of two entries per particular person). The highest two finishers will qualify for the 2026 or 2027 NHC based mostly on 100 entries, however Monmouth could add extra spots if greater than 100 entries are obtained. Gamers can solely guess on the day’s race playing cards of Aqueduct, Gulfstream and Tampa Bay Downs to win, place, present and in the end accumulate the best whole bankroll. Prizes of $7,500 shall be awarded based mostly on 100 entries. This contest can have walk-up money registration solely on the day of the occasion at Monmouth Park. For extra info, please contact Brian Skirka at bskirka@monmouthpark.com.
February Twenty first
Twin Spires $1,000 Oaklawn NHC/KDBC Qualifier
Twinspires.com shall be holding a one-day on-line contest on February Twenty first. The entry charge is $1,000, the entry charge is $500, and the wager is $500. Gamers can place Win, Place, Present, Ecsta, Trifecta and Day by day Double bets on the day’s program from Oaklawn Park. The participant who accumulates the best bankroll would be the winner. Along with pari-mutuel earnings, winners can even select to qualify for the NHC or the Kentucky Derby Betting Problem (KDBC). Based mostly on 75 entries, Twinspires will supply 7 spots.
February Twenty first and twenty eighth
Horseplayers.com tournaments are solely open to non-qualified gamers
Because the title suggests, these tournaments, held on-line at Horseplayers.com, are solely open to NHC Tour gamers who haven’t but certified for the 2026 Finals. The entry charge for the February Twenty first match is $210 and the entry charge for the February twenty eighth match is $500. Horseplayers.com’s basic win-win match guidelines apply, with a number of NHC spots out there on each days.
March twelfth
NHC Final Probability/First Probability Contest – Horseshoe Las Vegas
The granddaddy of all Final Probability/First Probability tournaments shall be held on the NHC venue at Horseshoe Las Vegas the night time earlier than the NHC and shall be hosted by NTRA. This occasion goes to be so massive that even when it have been a standalone match, it might be one of many greatest tournaments of the yr, each by way of cash and variety of entries. NHC Final Probability remains to be rising. Entries for the match have elevated by 40% annually since 2022, when it attracted 532 entries. Greater than 1,000 entries are anticipated in March 2026.
The entry charge for the 2026 NHC Final Probability/First Probability Contest is $600 (up from $500 in previous years), and the venue-only match is a direct qualifier for the NHC, which begins the following day. There isn’t a higher place to qualify for NHC. It’s estimated that there shall be greater than 1,000 entries, which can end in roughly 45 NHC spots for the 2026 match (precise quantity decided by precise variety of entries). NTRA’s share of this match is 8%, with 70% of entry charges then going on to the NHC Predominant Occasion prize pool. The remaining 30% of the entry charge shall be returned to the highest winners as prizes.
NHC Final Probability/First Probability is among the few remaining match occasions that makes use of the normal $2 win and place legendary cash format. Mirroring the NHC Finals format, gamers place a specified variety of legendary $2 WP bets on chosen obligatory and optionally available Thursday simulcast races. For every little thing you want to know, go to NTRA’s Tournaments part at www.NTRA.com/NHC.
