For those who’ve ever been to the Nationwide Horseplayers Championship (NHC) or the NHC Tour, two folks you have undoubtedly and unforgettably come into contact with are Michelle Ravencraft and Holly Brief. Collectively, they’re the highest two directors of NTRA’s signature handicap tournaments and are chargeable for awarding greater than $3 million in prize cash to match gamers every year, in addition to the Eclipse Award for Handicapper of the 12 months.
27th The annual NHC is able to open March 13-15, 2026 at Horseshoe Las Vegas. Most match individuals already know that with out the onerous work and professionalism of “Michele and Holly,” as they’re affectionately identified, the occasion wouldn’t have gone off as easily because it did. Underneath the management of NTRA Chief Working Officer Keith Chamblin, Ravencraft and Brief and the remainder of the NTRA employees handle the monumental administrative job of placing on a present on the NHC every year, and every year with out fail, it receives very excessive scores.
The NHC important occasion in Las Vegas is definitely simply the tip of the iceberg for Michelle and Holly. The dynamic duo runs the NHC Qualification Course of and the NHC Tour all year long.
Ravencraft is NTRA’s senior vice chairman of occasions, chargeable for overseeing each the NHC and the NHC Tour. Michele updates the NHC Tour leaderboard all year long and works with NHC handicappers each day. Ravencraft has greater than 20 years of expertise working at NHC.
Ms. Brief is NTRA’s Director of Advertising and Occasions and is healthier often called the “Mail Woman” and is accountable for almost all of communications between NTRA and NHC individuals. She has been with NTRA since 2017 and works tirelessly to make every year’s NHC larger and higher than the yr earlier than.
America’s Greatest Racing caught up with Michelle and Holly within the days main as much as the 2026 NHC opening to get their ideas on the annual match and the roles they play in it.
Please describe the satisfaction you could have in NHC. What does that occasion imply to you?
Michele: I’d say my greatest accomplishment was serving to NHC develop from 200 entries to over 800 entries through the years. I’ve labored at NTRA and NHC since 2003 and have watched NTRA develop over the previous 20 years and am very pleased with what NHC has turn out to be.
I really like working with match administrators throughout the nation. They deserve quite a lot of reward. Working a contest and customer support part is just not straightforward. All of them do an excellent job and are enthusiastic about what they do. We recognize their assist to NHC.
holly: Each time somebody asks me what I do, I say, “I get to assist construct an ecosystem that honors a whole bunch of horse racers yearly.” I need them to really feel like they’re crucial individual within the room, and hopefully present a significant expertise that they may always remember and need to expertise once more. ”
We’re conversant in the time necessities of contests and know that the time of NHC members and qualifiers is extraordinarily helpful. I do not low cost the truth that folks have jobs, households, and duties which are price spending time on. I wish to cherish that and work onerous day by day.
I am pleased with the neighborhood our gamers have created for themselves. It is actually particular and really onerous to elucidate to somebody who hasn’t skilled it. I at all times say that at NHC we would like everybody to be a fly on the wall. Since you will not know till you see it with your individual eyes.
What do you want about working with NHC and operating contests?
Michele: I’ve labored at NHC for over 20 years and I can say that that is my favourite a part of working at NTRA. Horse racers are particular folks. I have been lucky sufficient to know hundreds of them through the years working with NHC and NHC Excursions. It gave me nice pleasure. It is work I am proud to be concerned in. As I inform everybody I do know, NHC weekends are my favourite weekends of the yr.
holly:I really like NHC. This has launched me to so many fascinating folks that I’d not have met in any other case. How many individuals can say it is their job to speak to horse racing officers day by day and win hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in prize cash? It is much more enjoyable than sitting in a cubicle. We at all times discuss to folks through e-mail or telephone, however it’s nice to have the ability to shake somebody’s hand and see their face and identify in individual. that is my 10th NHC and I really like assembly folks yearly and getting a glimpse into their lives. You may actually really feel the power within the NHC room in your bones. The adrenaline pumped by way of me all through the occasion and carried me by way of to my flight residence. It’s tough to seek out one other program in our trade with the expansion and longevity (27 years) that NHC has.
What do you hate probably the most?
Michele: Up to now, when the NHC Awards and Eclipse Awards had been held in January, I needed to spend a while away from my daughter as a consequence of journey. Typically there was no Christmas tree. However now my daughter understands, and I am joyful to say she’s a fairly good handicapper.
Additionally, I’ve heard hundreds of unhealthy beats at these contests. We sincerely assist everybody in passing the NHC examination. In my view, it is an unforgettable expertise for a horse racer.
holly: I am in Las Vegas for 12 days, and as a consequence of time variations and busy schedules, it is onerous to be away from my household, and it is onerous to get in contact as soon as the occasion begins. The worst half is when one thing goes improper. We plan and plan, however typically issues simply occur. We by no means need anybody to be upset or have a nasty expertise with the competition. That continues to be with us. I dream about NHC for weeks earlier than and after the occasion. Often it is simply the listing and the face, however it’s very tiring.
How a lot effort and time goes into making ready for the championship in Las Vegas. Does it ever get previous?
Michele:My important job is managing NHC and NHC excursions. There aren’t any days off. However is it actually a job? I adore it. NTRA has an excellent staff. Yearly, everybody contributes to its success. It takes a complete staff. Keith Chamblin has been with NTRA since its and NHC’s inception. With out him we would not be the place we’re at this time. Additionally, we could not have carried out this with out Holly. She organizes me and the NHC qualifiers and prepares us for the championship.
holly: You actually cannot do that job should you do not just like the folks you’re employed with day by day. NTRA has an excellent staff that every one come collectively to make this occasion what it’s. Individuals know and see Michele, Keith and Holly, however we would not be the place we’re with out our complete employees. I am actually critical. Preparations for the following NHC start the day after the final NHC begins. Though we’re people and our brains are burned out, we do not truly develop previous.
While you’re not onerous at work at NTRA, what do you most get pleasure from doing in your down time?
Michele: NHC is one in all my “infants,” together with my 28-year-old daughter Schuler, who I simply received engaged to. I really like taking part in tennis and touring, however I hate sitting nonetheless. I am an avid tennis participant, however being captain of the USTA girls’s staff may be simply as difficult as working with over 5,000 horsemen.
holly: I spend time with my husband and 11-year-old son, and we get chauffeured round. You may fortunately spend a wet afternoon watching “How It is Made” and “This Outdated Home.” Within the evenings, I calm down and hearken to podcasts, and I really like British interval drama collection. I hearken to audiobooks as a result of I really feel very unproductive after I sit down. I like studying and studying about World Battle II. My canine Daisy and I attempt to go for a three-mile stroll day by day. I like organizing and cleansing my residence, so I’m going to Goodwill typically. I play mahjong with a bunch of girlfriends and discuss to my mother day by day. I really like tailgating to varsity soccer video games. As a result of any time I can stand in a parking zone through the day and have a beer, I am so joyful. I wish to journey, spend time overseas, and expertise actually cool locations. I’m going to mattress at 9pm and get up at 4:50am so I can have an hour of silence with a cup of espresso earlier than the day begins.
When NHC reconvenes in Las Vegas for its twenty seventh Basic Meetingth As of March thirteenth, horse racing officers can not anticipate to win, however thanks largely to the efforts of Michelle Ravencraft and Holly Brief, they will at all times rely on the occasion to be well-run and a good time available. Collectively, they’re the driving pressure behind the Nationwide Horse Gamers Championship.
