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Join Horse Racing Tournaments at TwinSpires

We are thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated TwinSpires Handicapping Tournaments have arrived! This is your chance to showcase your handicapping skills and compete for prizes or spots in other prestigious events.

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Get ready to Race to Victory!

Bettors can find tournaments at TwinSpires that include qualifiers to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC), the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), Turfway Handicappin Championship (THC) and the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge (KDBC).

Join the hundreds of horse-players who have come together to compete among one-another in the TwinSpires Tournaments platform. Reaction has been positive, so come see what the energy is all about!


Qualify for most major horse racing tournaments

Compete in our tournaments to secure your spot in the following major events


Why Participate in TwinSpires Horse Racing Tournaments?

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Big Prizes

Win big cash prizes or achieve exclusive tournament entries.

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Skill-based

User your handicapping skills to compete and win.

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Safe and trusted

Bet confidently with TwinSpires, backed by Churchill Downs.

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The Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge

The official betting tournament of the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge (KDBC), is returning to TwinSpires.com and offering a guaranteed prize pool of a quarter-million dollars. 

Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge logo
  • $250,000 Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge Live Bankroll Cash Tournament on May 3, 2025
    • $5,000 Total Buy-In  
    • $3,500 to Bankroll 
    • $1,500 to Prize Pool
    • Maximum of two (2) entries per person. 
    • Players must wager all $3,500 of their bankroll across all specified races at Churchill Downs.
    • The following wager types will count as contest wagers: Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Daily Double.
    • 100% of Prize Pool is paid out as Prizes.
    • Entries will be accepted up until 11:00AM ET, post time of the first race at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge Qualifier Tournaments Calendar

DateTournament TypeRacetrackSeat ImplicationsMin. # of Races Minimum $per Race
10/12/24
KDBC/BCBC Feeder - 10/27 Qualifier (1)
Charles Town
One (1) Qualifier Seat for every 20 Participating Players
5
$10.00
10/13/24
KDBC/BCBC Feeder - 10/27 Qualifier (2)
Keeneland
One (1) Qualifier Seat for every 20 Participating Players
5
$10.00
10/14/24
KDBC/BCBC Feeder - 10/27 Qualifier (3)
Presque Isle
One (1) Qualifier Seat for every 42 Participating Players
6
$4.00
10/15/24
KDBC/BCBC Feeder - 10/27 Qualifier (4)
Horseshoe Indianapolis
One (1) Qualifier Seat for every 25 Participating Players
5
$4.00
10/16/24
KDBC/BCBC Feeder - 10/27 Qualifier (5)
Keeneland
One (1) Qualifier Seat for every 20 Participating Players
5
$5.00
10/17/24
KDBC/BCBC Feeder - 10/27 Qualifier (6)
Keeneland
One (1) Qualifier Seat for every 20 Participating Players
5
$5.00
10/18/24
KDBC/BCBC Feeder - 10/27 Qualifier (7)
Keeneland
One (1) Qualifier Seat for every 14 Participating Players
5
$10.00
10/19/24
KDBC/BCBC Feeder - 10/27 Qualifier (8)
Keeneland
One (1) Qualifier Seat for every 10 Participating Players
5
$20.00
10/20/24
KDBC/BCBC Feeder - 10/27 Qualifier (9)
Keeneland
One (1) Qualifier Seat for every 20 Participating Players
5
$10.00
10/21/24
KDBC/BCBC Feeder - 10/27 Qualifier (10)
Presque Isle
One (1) Qualifier Seat for every 42 Participating Players
6
$4.00
Turfway Park Handicapping Championship
  • $10,000 Turfway Handicapping Championship Live Bankroll Cash Tournament on December 14, 2024
    • $2,000 Total Buy-In
    • $1,500 to Bankroll
    • $500 to Prize Pool
    • Maximum of two (2) entries per person.
    • Players must wager all $1,500 of their bankroll across at least five of the races at Turfway Park.
    • The following wager types will count as contest wagers: Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Daily Double.
    • 100% of Prize Pool is paid out as Prizes.
    • Online Registration will begin at 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
    • Entries will be accepted up until 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 14, 2024.

Turfway Park Handicapping Championship

Date
Buy-In
Racetrack
Seat Implications
Min. # of Races
Minimum $Per Race
Wednesday, Dec. 4
$300
Turfway
One (1) THC seat for every 13 entries
5
$15
Thursday, Dec. 5
$400
Turfway
One (1) THC seat for every 10 entries
5
$20
Friday, Dec. 6
$500
Turfway
One (1) THC seat for every 8 entries
5
$25
Saturday, Dec. 7
$500
Turfway
One (1) THC seat for every 8 entries
5
$25
Sunday, Dec. 8
$400
Fair Grounds
One (1) THC seat for every 10 entries
5
$20
Wednesday, Dec. 11
$300
Turfway
One (1) THC seat for every 13 entries
5
$15
Thursday, Dec. 12
$500
Turfway
One (1) THC seat for every 8 entries
5
$25
Friday, Dec. 13
$500
Turfway
One (1) THC seat for every 8 entries
5
$25

National Horseplayers Championship logo

NHC Schedule

Please find the tournaments tied to a National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) qualifying events and secure your spot

August 3rd at Ellis Park - Two guaranteed seats and eligible for tour points

August 10th at Colonial Downs - Features Arlington Million

August 24th at Ellis Park

September 7th at Kentucky Downs

September 14th at Churchill Downs

September 21 at Churchill Downs

September 28th at Churchill Downs

October 5th at Keeneland

October 12th at Keeneland

Breeders' Cup World Championships 2024 logo

BCBC Schedule

Participate in these key tournaments to qualify for the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC).

Exciting news: You can now participate in the BCBC directly from your TwinSpires account! Don't miss this incredible opportunity to compete against the best and prove you have what it takes to be a champion.

August 10th at Colonial Downs - Features Arlington Million

August 24th at Ellis Park

September 7th at Kentucky Downs

September 21st at Churchill Downs

September 28th at Churchill Downs

October 5th at Keeneland

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Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge

Nov 1 - Nov 2, 2024
Registration Closes on November 1st, 2024 2:00 PM EDT

  • 2025 NHC Entry + Cash
    • $10,000 Total Buy-In 
      • $7,500 to Bankroll 
      • $2,500 to Prize Pool
      • Maximum of two (2) entries per person. 
      • Players must wager all $7,500 of their bankroll across two days at Del Mar.
      • By the end of Friday, November 1, 2024, a minimum of $600 must be wagered per race on a minimum of three (3) of the five (5) Breeders’ Cup Championship races occurring on Friday, November 1, 2024.  By the end of Saturday, November 2, 2024, a minimum of $600 must be wagered per race on a minimum of seven (7) of the nine (9) Breeders’ Cup Championship races occurring on Saturday, November 2, 2024. 
        • Players can wager as much as they want, including the winnings from their bankroll.
        • The following wager types will count as contest wagers: Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Daily Double.
        • For Daily Doubles to count toward the minimum wager requirements, the first leg of the double must be a Breeders’ Cup Championship race.
        • Tournament wagers will not count toward TwinSpires promotions unless stated otherwise. Check the individual promotion for clarification.
        • Online Registration will begin at 9:00AM ET on Saturday, October 5, 2024. 
        • Entries will be accepted up until 2:00PM ET on Friday, November 1, 2024. 
        • Official BCBC Leaderboard
 1st Place = $360,0006th Place = $60,00011th Place = $25,000        16th Place = $12,000
2nd Place = $240,0007th Place = $50,00012th Place = $20,00017th Place = $11,500
3rd Place = $130,0008th Place = $40,00013th Place = $17,50018th Place = $11,000
4th Place = $90,0009th Place = $35,00014th Place = $15,00019th Place = $10,500
5th Place = $70,00010th Place = $30,00015th Place = $12,50020th Place = $10,000

TOURNAMENT DETAILS

Players MUST wager all $7,500 of their bankroll across two days at Del Mar on Friday, November 1, 2024 and Saturday, November 2, 2024. By the end of Friday, November 1, 2024, a minimum of $600 must be wagered per race on a minimum of three (3) of the five (5) Breeders’ Cup Championship races occurring on Friday, November 1, 2024.  By the end of Saturday, November 2, 2024, a minimum of $600 must be wagered per race on a minimum of seven (7) of the nine (9) Breeders’ Cup Championship races occurring on Saturday, November 2, 2024. 

The following wager types will count as contest wagers: Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Daily Double. 

All remaining funds including pari-mutuel winnings will be transferred to the players primary TwinSpires account following the conclusion of the contest.

This tournament is being run by Breeders' Cup on site as well as several other ADWs. Please see their official rules for any additional questions or concerns.

National Horseplayers Championship

March 14 - 16, 2025 in Las Vegas

March 13 - 15, 2026 in Las Vegas

There are three Championship qualifying events you are able to participate in on TwinSpires.com: the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC), and the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge (KDBC).

You will notice a menu of weekly NHC contests at varying price points and entry to prize ratios. There are "feeders" and there a "featured qualifiers." Feeders are lower entry contests that feed into the featured qualifiers that offer entries. 2024 Champion Mike Gillum won over $4.4 million in prize-money and awards, which led to the honor of Horseplayer of the Year Eclipse Award. The NHC is one of the world’s richest and most prestigious handicapping tournaments of the year for horseplayers and is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments.


How do horse racing tournaments work?

Horse racing tournaments let you bet on multiple races in an attempt to outscore fellow horseplayers in competition of big prizes. Compete in skill-based events and experience the excitement of horse racing in every race.

Want to learn more about playing tournaments? Check out the following insight from our team!

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Tournament Terminology

Feeder – lower entry contests that feed into the featured qualifiers that offer entries (also known as seats or berths) 

Berth –  a qualifying entry to a tournament (also known as a seat)

Seat – a qualifying entry to a tournament (also known as a berth)

Qualifier – a contest that offers an entry and prize package

Mandatory Race – a race which is required to be played during a contest

Optional Race – a race that may be selected to be played in a contest by the player

Real Money Format (also known as Live Bankroll) – a contest which requires cash to be used for pari-mutuel wagering as part of the contest entry fee, or all of the entry fee; all winnings are retained by the player

Pick & Pray – a contest format where all contest selections must be made prior to the first contest race closing and selections may not be edited throughout the contest