NTRA

The winner of the 2027 National Horseplayers Championship will receive an updated cash prize of $1,000,000 along with a coveted Eclipse Award symbolically recognizing the important contribution all horseplayers make to the sport, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Thursday. The 2027 NHC, presented by Caesars Race and Sportsbook, Racetrack Television Network (RTN) and Horseshoe Las Vegas, will be held March 5-7, 2027, at the Horseshoe. "Since its launch in 1999, the National Horseplayers Championship has realized unprecedented growth thanks to sustained participation by horseplayers and our members and partners...

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) presented the first-ever NTRA Statesman of the Year Award to Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Tuesday at its 4th Annual Kentucky Derby Kickoff Reception on Capitol Hill, the organization said in a press release on Friday. The award recognizes a lawmaker who has worked to improve the Thoroughbred racing industry. "The Senator from Kentucky has been a champion for our industry in Washington for over four decades," said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. "He has helped make our sport safer and been a...

It's a busy time for NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney as there are some important issues facing horse racing that are being addressed in the nation's capital. Most notably, is the provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill that allows gamblers to deduct only 90 percent of their losses from their winnings. If nothing is done to change that, it will likely have a serious impact on the sport and drive many big bettors out of the game. Bills have been introduced that would allow gamblers to again write...

The NTRA's Tom Rooney joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss the impending federal tax on gambling, the SAFE Act, another successful NHC, and more.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and Caesars Entertainment have entered into a multi-year agreement that will keep the Horseshoe Las Vegas as the host venue for the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) through 2029. The dates for the upcoming NHC are: Mar. 5-7, 2027; Mar. 3-5, 2028; and Mar. 9-11, 2029. "We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Caesars Entertainment and Horseshoe Las Vegas," said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. "Since moving to Horseshoe in 2020, the NHC has seen tremendous growth in player participation, sponsor involvement, and...

I have been reading the opinions of many respected people who have invested greatly in the racing industry and have been involved in it for decades. Many of their observations about the state of the sport and the organizations that are supposed to lead it are correct. I would like to share what I have discovered over the past few years. I have been involved in breeding and racing Thoroughbreds for more than 40 years, and I care deeply about the future of this industry. Like many others, I have...

The NTRA will match all horseplayer donations up to $5,000 to support Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at the upcoming NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC). The event will take place at the Horseshoe Las Vegas Hotel and Casino from March 13-15, 2026. "Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance plays a vital role in promoting responsible aftercare across our sport," said Tom Rooney, President & CEO, NTRA. "We're proud to feature their mission at the National Horseplayers Championship and to support initiatives that strengthen racing's long-term integrity."

Kevin Engelhard, Mike Ferrozzo, Chris Littlemore, and Ken Seeman, who have 62 total NHC appearances between them, have been voted by their peers for induction into the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship Hall of Fame, the The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Friday. These decorated handicappers represent the 12th class of NHC Hall of Fame inductees and will be recognized during the NHC Champions Dinner on Sunday, March 15, following the conclusion of the 27th NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) at the Horseshoe Las Vegas.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sent a letter to stakeholders at the Eclipse Awards asking them to bar jockeys Irad Ortiz Jr. and his brother, Jose, from future consideration for the awards after the discovery of a social media video that appears to show the brothers collecting cash in a ring at a cockfight in Puerto Rico. It is unclear when the event took place. The 18-second video was posted on X in November, 2025 on the account of @Josmaestre131, with a caption in Spanish...

On Thursday in Palm Beach, Bob Duncan was honored with a Special Eclipse Award for Career Excellence acknowledging his contribution to the sport of horse racing through his work at the starting gate. I loudly applaud the NTRA, DRF and National Turf Writers & Broadcasters for recognizing Bob's unique talent and gift to racing with this award. I applaud Bob himself for his approach to his craft and the shining example he has set in handling horses with respect as partners in winning races. Bob and his craft are known...

Outspoken owner Mike Repole announced Monday on his feed on the social media platform X that he has taken the first steps toward launching what he called a "national lawsuit" that he hopes will bring what he feels are vital changes to the horse racing industry. Repole compared his lawsuit to Michael Jordan vs. NASCAR. That case refers to the recent antitrust lawsuit filed by Jordan's 23XI Racing against NASCAR, accusing the organization of monopolistic practices, which culminated in a mid-trial settlement in December 2025. Among the issues brought up...

Robert Clark, a 66-year-old equine artist from Paris, Ky., was named the Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards Sweepstakes winner by The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), according to an organization release on Thursday. Clark's name was randomly selected from the pool of entries. Clark, whose work includes the book "A Brush with Greatness", and his wife, Susan, will be guests of the NTRA and Resolute Racing at the 55th Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards on Jan. 22 at The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida. The pair also will be guests of Resolute at...