Caesars Entertainment horse racing properties - Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Harrah’s Philadelphia, and Harrah’s Louisiana Downs - announced today the first-ever Caesars Rewards Handicapping Challenge. The Caesars Rewards Handicapping Challenge will offer horseplayers from around the U.S. the unique opportunity to handicap both Thoroughbred and Standardbred races for a top prize of $20,000, a seat at the $3,000,000 estimated National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), and an additional $1 million cash prize if the winner of the Caesars Rewards Handicapping Challenge also captures the NHC victory. This one-day challenge will be hosted on Saturday, June 22.
The Caesars Rewards Handicapping Challenge, sponsored by John Deere and Cowpokes, will be hosted at the four Caesars Racing properties: Harrah’s Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, LA; Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville, IN; Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson, IN; and Harrah’s Philadelphia in Chester, PA. Players can also participate at the tracks’ Off-Track Betting properties: Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Mound OTB in Tallulah, LA; VooDoo BBQ & Grill and Winner’s Circle OTB in New Haven, IN; Winner’s Circle Pub, Grille & OTB in Indianapolis, IN; and Winner’s Circle OTB in Clarksville, IN. Participants must be 21 or over.
Entry into the Caesars Rewards Handicapping Challenge requires a $150 fee due upon check-in on the day of the challenge. Reservations will begin on Friday, May 17, 2019 and the challenge will be capped at 400 entries. Players are encouraged to sign up quickly as the entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Contestants will be limited to two entries per person. The entry fee will include dining offerings at each location, race day simulcast programs and tip sheets.
The first-place winner in the Caesars Rewards Handicapping Challenge will walk away with $20,000, a seat at the $3,000,000 estimated National Horseplayers Championship, and a chance at an additional $1 million cash prize in the event of a double victory. First-place winner must be eligible to participate in the NHC in order to receive the NHC seat. For more information about the National Horseplayers Championship, visit nhctour.com.
The $1 million prize will be awarded either as an annuity that pays $25,000 per year for 40 years without interest or as a discounted lump sum payment of $550,000, which represents the approximate present value of the annuity.
Second place will be awarded $10,000 while the third-place winner will take home $1,500. There will be additional cash prizes for fourth through tenth place.
The format for the challenge will require contestants to make 12 $2 win and place fictional wagers on the designated challenge races. Contestants must place a win and place wager on one horse in 12 mandatory races out of 20 available from Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Indiana Grand, and Harrah’s Hoosier Park. At least one race per track must be included on each entry to be eligible for the challenge. The wagers must be placed at a designated challenge location. All wagers are fictional; no money is paid on challenge wagers. The challenge time frame is 4:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (EST).
Reservations for the Caesars Rewards Handicapping Challenge can be made by calling (866) 357-1731. In addition, the challenge coordinators can be reached by calling Tammy Knox at (317) 421-8979 or Rose Flood at (765) 609-4813.
(Caesars Racing)