Is horse racing a game of skill or a game of chance? Maybe it’s both. To reach the greatest heights in racing, you not only need great skill, but also a bevy of factors to properly align.
In 2015, American Pharoah proved himself early, overcoming troubled starts and bad weather, while taking down the competition time and time again. After his win in the Kentucky Derby (gr. 1), it was clear this was a special horse that could make his own luck.
Any time a turf player opens up the Daily Racing Form to handicap a Thoroughbred horserace, they are bombarded with well, an infinite amount of pertinent tidbits. From Beyer Speed Figures to pedigrees, the list goes on and on, yet that portion of data known as post position(s), (or which numeric gate said racers will break from) more often than not also factors into the decision making process. There are many things to consider when playing the ponies.
Jonathon Kinchen, a 33-year-old University of Texas graduate in real estate in Austin, is gunning for a record $2.8 million payday for a horseplayer if he wins the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship Presented by Racetrack Television Network and Treasure Island Las Vegas, set to kick off Thursday at Treasure Island. As winner of the season-long NHC Tour, Kinchen is now eligible for a $2 million bonus if he also wins the NHC finale, which carries an $800,000 first-place prize.
He will have the maximum two of more than 600 entries for the Jan. 28-30 championship.
As a rookie last year, Kinchen finished seventh and 11th in the championship, which Daily Racing Form contests editor Peter Fornatale called â??one of the most impressive feats in the history of the event.â?
