ncTony does it.

[Mall]

Congrats to ncTony, who qualified for the nhc today with a strong finish in a very tough contest, which included hitting the winner of the last race, the Oak Leaf Stakes at SA. The horse in question is the appropriately named Cash Included, which paid $29 & change to win. In the opinion of the writer, ncTony definitely belongs, & can be counted on to be a formidable competitor come Jan. Way to go ncTony!  

[Michael D.]

i\'ll second that.

Tony has always been one of the good guys, and one of the excellent handicappers.

congrats !!

[marcus]

that was some nice going on nctony\'s part - that leaf was a tricky race , he was playing to win - congradulations ncTony !

[richiebee]

Well done and well deserved.

Could it come down to you vs TGJB for all the cash in January?

[Silver Charm]

Isn\'t a little ridiculus with most of the qualifying contests complete we really don\'t know who is actually in the main event as of yet. If you want to check on who you should have called six months ago to enter a contest back in March or April just get a hold of the following. That\'s published.

Patti Hunt Stampede Park

Brooke Beaman Prairie Meadows

But the guy who stands a chance at winning a half million bucks and lay claim to being the best handicapper in America for the next year remains a mystery.  Does it need to be kept a secret from somebodys wife? \"Honey I\'m going on a three day camping trip.\" Really a shame.

We can get endless lists for months on end of potential Derby Contenders but the list of the best handicappers in America is kept secretly in a dark room only to be unveiled for four days in Feb.

Unless one of them has his own website.

[Mall]

The most thorough & timely contest dope, results & other info, is at:http://www.horseplayerdaily.com/cat/Players+Lounge+Home+Page.html The links are obvious with the exception of Your Blogs, which includes some pretty interesting pieces on contest strategy, including one written by someone who pilfered your cybername.

Another which is consistently good is the Tournaments & Qualifiers section of the Discussion Group at: http://www.homebased2.com/km/msiez9987.htm

I\'m not 100% sure, but assume the reference to Miss Patti, who along with her Director of Racing are light yrs ahead of the Beulah twins in the looks dept, is a positive one, so perhaps you\'ll indulge me a brief \"war\" story. Midway through the 1st day of their two day contest last yr, the entire tote system in Canada went down. Although it had never happened before, Patti & her sidekick had a backup plan in place to keep track of everything by hand, which ended up working very well. She later told me that she also had a second backup plan in case the people she was counting on to help her implement backup plan number one didn\'t show up for work.

In contrast, at the one day \"last chance\" contest at Bally\'s earlier this year, which had a lower turnout, they had a problem with the feed from one of the two tracks which were supposed to be part of the contest. As far as I could tell, they had no idea what to do next, & proceeded to change the format 3 or 4 times, the end result being, if I remember correctly, that they ended up using an entirely different track & format, even though a number of the entrants, including one irate trainer I talked to, had flown considerable distances and spent considerable time preparing. As these things go in contests, it did work out for the winner, who was upstairs playing blackjack when his cohorts called, explained what happened, & convinced him that since everyone was now starting from scratch,his chances were as good as anyone\'s.  

[NoCarolinaTony]

To All

Thanks for the kind words. It was the most fun day I\'ve ever spent \"Simulcasting\" from home!! Too bad the last Race 9 from SA was not part of the ESPN HD experience.  It would have almost felt like I was really there.

It will be great to compete against such formidable foes as TGJB, Mall, and quite a few others that I know who use TG,  who have qualified or will qualify for the contest before the year is out.

Hey for what it\'s worth NHCQualify.com they have two more monthly contests for those that want to qualify.

Again thank you you all for the kind words.

NC Tony

[bobphilo]

Congrats Tony,

Our differences on the drug issue aside, well done.

Bob

[TGJB]

Mall-- let me get this straight. You claim that someone in authority in racing is a) female, b) good looking, and c) competent???

Tony-- I\'ll buy you that beer in Vegas. In fact, if we are both in contention, I\'ll buy you several. During the races.

[Silver Charm]

Mall,

My response to your response requires some time and explaining.

This weekend has been pretty hectic. Friday night in a topless bar, Saturday morning at the Country Club playing golf, Saturday afternoon at the track, Sunday morning at Church. Now I\'m trying to locate my wife and kids.

At least there is plenty of balance in my life.

Look for the response later this evening. There will be a factual story that is one for the ages and ties most this together. People will not be disappointed when they read it.

[NoCarolinaTony]

TGJB,

Thanks...on all accounts.

The irnony of the day is that I Had to bet against your horse thinking that I obviously was not betting the favorite, could not bet the Favotite or even the second best horse where your horse fit. Miller also had the 7, set the fast early pace but I would say that Saturday was a speed favoring surface yesterday. No one came off the pace much all day on dirt. In fact the third place finisher Quick Little Miss might be worthy of of bet back next time out.

Since I am not as familiar with him, what can you tell us about your trainer in CA Peter Miller. Impressive stats. How did PINATA return from the race, she never fired.

Well a certain friend of mine has coached me to never drink and wager. The first rule of contest play.

NC Tony

But I will drink one right after...

[NoCarolinaTony]

Thanks Bob!!

NC Tony

[SJU5]

Congrats NC Tony...Good luck in the future tournaments!!!! Way to represent!

Storm

[Silver Charm]

NCTony congrats again.

Mall let me set the record straight. My reference to Patti Hunt and Brooke Beaman had nothing to do with their good looks, intelligence and friendly personalities. I've have never met either but I will certainly take your word on it knowing for sure that you know Miss Patti because you won the Stampede Park Contest two years back to qualify for the NTRA/DRA Vegas Finals.

My reference to both of them was from the perspective that the DRF.com handicapping page gives more notability to the Contest organizers than the actual Contest winners. Completely the opposite from Poker, which manufactures stars out of nobody's while racing keeps theirs in the closet. Mall with three consecutive years of qualifying for the Finals, and an overall third, you yourself are a Texas Dolly of sorts of Racing Contests. Except no one knows you.  The Contests themselves are becoming more and more prevalent and the Purses are beginning to grow. Start making celebrities out of those who compete in them and win them, will interest others to take a shot and it will grow even more. That's what Poker did.

TGJB I beg to differ on your surprise of an attractive and competent woman holding a high profile position in racing. Perhaps you didn\'t mean it the way I took it but there are plenty, Start with Jeanine Edwards and begin working your way down.  Jan Rushton, Carolyn Conley, Blonde Rhonda at Calder whose job it is to stroke the high rollers. (Don't they wish). Kim Goodwin formerly of the Maryland circuit was attractive until she swallowed a whole cow. There are too many others to name.

Now the story. I made my annual courtesy visit to the Paddock before this years Kentucky Oaks to visit good friend D.Wayne "The King" Lukas. Chit chat was casual until up walked Salesman, Hustler, Womanizer, Jockey Agent Ronnie Eubanks with his good friend Poker Superstar Phill Hellmuth.  Introductions were made until Hellmuth felt compelled to clarify his introduction.

Hellmuth: Listen guys I am still the youngest person ever to win the World Series of Poker Main Event and am the proud owner of Ten Bracelets.

Lukas (humbly): Oh really, well I've won this next race Four Times and have won Fourteen Triple Crown Races.

Hellmuth: You don't understand, Ten Bracelets is bigger.

Lukas: Not in my world it isn't.

Laughter all around. Lukas then quickly changing the subject.

Lukas: Hey guys I had a first occur to me today when I was leading my horse over. A woman yelled out from the stands, "Wayne will you Marry Me".

Eubanks: Have you two set a date yet. Everybody knows that's one question you don't know how to say no to..

[Mall]

I missed the drf feature on Patti & Brooke, so if you have a link I\'m interested.

The D. Wayne story for some reason made me think of an incident which is entirely unrelated. The vast majority of horseplayers are nothing if not single- minded, & there\'s an unwritten but pretty strict rule at every track/otb that all discussion, & everything else for that matter, should be limited to the task at hand, picking winners & cashing tickets. No one\'s interested in anyone\'s politics, religion, personal life, etc, etc., which for the most part is as it should be. However,there\'s been a lot in the papers lately about the upcoming elections, & one relative newcomer who\'s not familar with the unwritten rules asks the group, just as the most important races of the day are coming up, who they\'re going to vote for. Initially, everyone appears  dumbstruck by the oddity of the question, so things go silent until finally, a grizzled veteran looks up from his racing form to reveal his candidate: \"The three horse.\"