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NYRA announces 2021 Handicapping Challenge schedule

by Keith McCalmont

Two-day Belmont Stakes Challenge offers cash prizes along with NHC and BCBC seats

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced a lucrative schedule for the 2021 Handicapping Challenge series, anchored by the two-day Belmont Stakes Challenge slated for June 4-5.

NYRA Handicapping Challenge entrants will be able to register and compete online in all contests via NYRA Bets. The leaderboard for all of these contests will be posted throughout the day on America’s Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports. 

In order to enter and play online, contestants must be registered NYRA Bets account holders. To learn more, visit www.NYRA.com/challenge.

Entrants for the two-day Belmont Stakes Challenge will compete for one seat to the 2022 Belmont Stakes Challenge, four seats to the National Handicapping Championship (NHC) and two seats to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC).

The 2021 Belmont Stakes Challenge has an entry fee of $10,000, of which $2,500 will go directly to the prize pool, with the remaining $7,500 comprising each participants’ bankroll. Eligible tournament races at Belmont Park will start on Friday, June 4, and end with the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 5. Contest players can make win, place, show, exacta, and trifecta wagers.

Online registration for the Belmont Stakes Challenge will open in May.

Over the course of the 2021 season, NYRA will offer six NYRA Bets live-money handicapping challenges featuring a $3,000 buy-in with each event offering cash prizes, a seat in another 2021 $3,000 NYRA Bets contest and two 2022 NHC seats.

The $3,000 NYRA Bets handicapping challenges will kick off on Saturday, March 6 with the Gotham Challenge.

The one-mile Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, which provides 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers, headlines a stacked Big A card that includes the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs; the $250,000 Busher Invitational for 3-year-old fillies offering 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers; and the $125,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational at one-mile for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up.

The $3,000 NYRA Bets handicapping challenge series:
Saturday, March 6 – Gotham Challenge
Saturday, April 3 – Wood Memorial Challenge
Saturday, July 3 – Stars & Stripes Challenge
Saturday, August 7 – Whitney Challenge
Saturday, September 4 – Woodward Challenge
Saturday, December 4 – Cigar Mile Challenge

Each Saturday throughout the racing season - with the exception of the NYRA Bets challenge series dates and also May 1, May 15, and November 6 - NYRA Bets will offer a $300 live-money handicapping challenge.

The unique NYRA Bets $300 live-money handicapping challenge ($200 live bankroll / $100 prize pool) offers cash prizes to the top seven finishers, while players that land eighth through tenth in the standings will receive an entry in next week’s contest ($300 value).

New NYRA Bets members are currently eligible to receive a bet $200 get $200 bonus. NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of The New York Racing Association, Inc. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.