Stars & Stripes, and Saratoga tournaments now open for registration

by Najja Thompson

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced today the opening of registration for the Stars & Stripes Challenge and the Saratoga Challenge live money handicapping tournaments.

The Stars & Stripes handicapping tournament will take place on Saturday, July 8 at Belmont Park in the North Shore Terrace on the fourth floor. The entry fee is $500, of which $200 will go to the prize pool, with the remaining $300 comprising each participant's bankroll. Contestants must wager a minimum of $30 on 10 different races at Belmont Park or Monmouth Park, with a minimum of at least five races at Belmont making win, place, show, exacta, quinella and trifecta wagers. 

In addition to a guaranteed first-place prize of $5,000, the Stars & Stripes Challenge will also offer one seat, including entry fees to the 2018 Belmont Stakes Challenge and two seats to the 2018 National Handicapping Championship held in Las Vegas.

The Saratoga Challenge is set for Wednesday, August 9 and Thursday, August 10. Comprised of two separate, one-day live-money handicapping contests, the Saratoga Challenge will have an entry fee of $1,000 per day, with $500 towards the prize pool for each one day contest and the remaining $500 comprising each contestant's bankroll. 

Participants must wager a minimum of $100 on five different races making win, place, show, exacta, quinella and trifecta wagers all on the Saratoga card, excluding steeplechase races for each corresponding contest date.

With a guaranteed first place prize pool of $10,000 for each contest day, contestants will also compete for one seat to the 2018 Belmont Stakes Challenge for each day and two seats per day to the 2018 National Handicapping Championship.

Online registration for both contests will open on Friday, June 2and close on July 6 for the Stars & Stripes Handicapping Challenge, and August 6 for the Saratoga Handicapping Challenge, at which time full payment for registration for each tournament is required.

For full contest rules and more information on the Stars & Stripes and Saratoga Handicapping Challenge please visit NYRA.com/challenge.