NHC QUALIFY

[Mayo]

I would expect many of you have received a recent email from McKay Smith again changing the schedule for the remaining 2010 tournaments at NHCqualify. As you will read, the schedule reinstates the $100 contests for June dates that were cancelled in April.

As many of you know, several members of the players committee were very vocal about the changes that were announced earlier this month. Many felt they gave the "deep pocket" players a big advantage in the ability to accumulate tour points over a two month period. Hopefully these new changes in the schedule will bring back a more level playing field and allow the smaller players a better opportunity.

No matter what you think of NHCqualify, they have been a very good partner to the NTRA since their inception in 2006. No other site has contributed more to the NHC purse fund over that time period.

Please know the committee will continue to work with all tournament sites to ensure they offer the best opportunites for all players. Although we can only act in advisory role, we do feel like the committee's input does make a difference.

Thanks to all who continue to give your input and suggestions. They are always welcome and we really do listen.

Sincerely,

Mike Mayo, Chairman
Players Committee

[SPIKE]

There has also been a management change at NHCQualify.com. Jeff Sotman, who has been the manager since inception in 2006 and has overseen the growth of the operation, will be leaving effective April 2. Ken Kirchner will be taking over as director.

[km]

It's a curious situation and Donnie, et al, have been trying to figure it out in the other thread. Now we'll get to see how it plays out.

NHCQ has to front-load their schedule to ensure they got all the spots covered in case the business model was changed. This will leave a void after June in the qualifying market. But does that result in a surge of interest for $400 a drop to get the early Q?

Now they re-schedule one of the $400 contests to a $100 Q+Q. Will everyone wait to play on the cheap and leave the remaining $400 contests NOT-sold out? Remember, there is a diminishing return if they don't fill = less qualifiers.

Tejas has reckoned the hood is fairly small for the unlimited funds players. So are many players of average means going to be tapped out of their yearly budget if they don't qualify by summer? It could be, because until Jan 2011, the ROI = 0.00 for everyone participating in NHCQ and it will be an 8 month wait to get any cash return. So even those who did qualify, might sit on it.

Interesting dynamics this year that may give us some valid insights into the tournament sub-culture and the perceived value of a seat at the NHC Finals.

[Donnie]

A number of people are reporting "robo-calls" being made to strike up interest in the HorsePlayer Mag/Xpressbet contest running head-to-head with NHCQualify this weekend. Just wondering if anyone on here has received any robo-calls?

Also, on a side note....I must be listed as a creditor for Hoosier Park. I got a notice of bankruptcy in the mail this week giving me deadline dates to submit credits due from them. I guess I'll have to look through all my bookwork and see how much they owe me for showing up for their one contest that one time!

And those of you dragging your feet...there's still time to sign up for the NHCQualify $400 one day contest....only 71 entries left as I write this! And that means they give away what....3 spots?

[km]

Donnie, I got the robo-message from Tom Q on the HTR-Voicemail (a publicly available phone#). It was polite and factual only and not at all intrusive. Quigley is just about the nicest guy you'll ever meet and i wish i could afford to play in it, but IO Uncle Sam and Gov Arnold a lot of my money soon and have to keep it tight for awhile.

In order to play in the contest, you need to be a member of XPressBet anyway (with 1000 smacks in the account), and all members received an email from them and the announcement is posted on their website. In fact, i have received at least 3 other emails regarding this contest from various sources including Horseplayer. So virtually anyone able to participate, already knows about it. Maybe they aren't making the quota of participants and needed a marketing thrust with the auto caller.

As youi mention, the NHC Qualify contest is on the same day with lots of open spots right now, a $400 entry, so you wonder if the overlap will cost either contest some bodies.

[TEJASKIDD]

Donnie,

I believe they give away 1 spot for every 25 entered. Which means if there were 71 entries left that means 129 were sold, therefore, 5 spots awarded.

Ken,

Tom IS one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, but that contest represents worse value (than NHCQ), unless they don't get the 200 players (which I suspect there will be no chance of that), however, putting up $200 that is gone plus a forced $800 wagered is a tough pill to swallow no matter how flush you are for a spot that's only really worth about $3000

[km]

Well put Dennis, i was thinking with my heart, not my head. You want to support other people in the business, especially good guys like TomQ who do a lot for horseracing, but if the value is negative, then you have to pass.

Mayo and I are entered in the Orleans on April 8. We just keep recycling our minor winnings from the previous contests, but it is indicative of the generous payback prize structure. Coast contests pay 105% return on entries, and pay down deeply in the standings , so players cash often and can come back without feeling the depressing effects of 0.00 ROI as with NHCQ if you don't qualify.

Wouldn't a marriage of Orleans and NHC be perfect?

[EddieSweat]

I received the same "robocall", for the subscriber of Horse Player Magazine.

I do have a slighty different take on the posting of a $800 bankroll for the "HorsePlayerMag/XpressBet" contest.

In last Saturday's XpressBet NHC satellite (qualifier), I bought into the contest for the $100 entry fee. When the contest started I was a few dollars short of the $200 bankroll. The system had no trouble excepting my $20 live wager per race. By the time the last race came around I had not hit a single race and just passed betting it.

Seems like the same system could be used for the upcoming Saturday "HorsePlayerMag/XpressBet" contest. Just make sure you get 10 wagers in at a minimum of $80 per race! It's not necessary to blow $800. You can come up with whatever amount YOU want to put a risk.

If someone thinks it's not ethical to post less than $800, it doesn't stop you from posting the whole $800 and stopping when you hit your loss limit. So many different ways to play this contest with it being a cash contest with limitless wagering.

[SPIKE]

KM, see you in Vegas at the Orleans. 105% return is a no brainer. Free food and beers. Viva Vegas

[km]

Eddie, thanks for posting, very clever idea to get around the $800 initially. If you don't win anything in your first few tries, you dump the whole contest anyway. That would fine if there wasn't an additional (unrecoverable) 200 clams down the drain as Tejas reminds us. I could see myself $500 in the hole very quickly in that contest and wondering if i should continue to gamble, especially if the top 3 are already far ahead.

Spike - outstanding - see you there.

[tomcat]

I had several unwelcome calls. We are on the 'do not call list' and it was unappreciated.
Sorry to disagree ken, he may be a nice guy, but I had a not very nice experience dealing with him.

[Donnie]

It doesn't appear they are not going to sell out tomorrow....56 entries still available as of 7PM tonight....

[dehere]

Nice to see Ken in 2nd after two legs after getting the post time favorite in the last after the scratch of the TOUR horse - keep it going Ken.

I guess you don't get the post time favorite - but a nice win in the 3rd leg and tied with Marsha Mayo I see.

[SPIKE]

GO GET EM BOSS

[Donnie]

Nice try Ken! 11th place.

Congrats to Marsha!!!!!! Qualified in 9th!!

[dehere]

Congrats Marsha - a very nice evening for you.

[km]

Well done Mayos, congrats, another spot at the NHC for 2011.

Thanks for rooting me on guys, will try again tomorrow at HPQ.