Oneil Wins NHC Championship

John Oneil, who took over the lead midway through day two of the three-day competition, bested 606 entries to win the $2.3-million Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship Sunday at the Treasure Island in Las Vegas. Oneil was the NHC two-day leader at the end of Saturday’s races, but lost the lead toward the end of the Final 50 contest that led to the Final Table. In the seven mandatory races that made up the Final Table, however, Oneil cashed in four, with three winners–Huntstown ($6.40) in Tampa Bay Down’s 10th race, Main Man Mike ($14.40) in Gulfstream Park’s 11th, and Aperfectdaytofly ($7.40) in Santa Anita’s seventh. 

“It was short-priced horses that got me there but that’s what we had today,” Oneil said. “Thank God for very few bombs.” 

A small business owner from Huntington Station, NY, Oneil earned $800,000 for the victory. He has been a contest regular, with his previous best finish an 18th in 2010. At 74, he is the oldest winner in the 16-year history of the event. 

Asked how he got into racing, he said, “My brother took me [to Jamaica Race Course] one day when I was 14 or 15 and I’ve been doing it every day since. It’s been a journey to get here, believe me. This probably makes me even after a lifetime.” 

Oneil’s winning score was $327.20. Ken Jordan finished second with $291.70, while the top three was rounded out by Matthew Ransdell with $269.