Horseplayers seldom burst into the spotlight of the racing world. Owners do -- almost as often as trainers, jockeys, and equine athletes -- but the guy in the grandstand goes mostly unnoticed and therefore unreported. You don't read in-depth articles about the winner of the pick six. You don't find many features on those who make a living "playing the ponies."
That doesn't mean the stories don't exist.
This weekend at the 13th annual Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, lives converge in pursuit of a cool $1.5 million and horse racing's official title of "Handicapper of the Year." The tournament has grown rapidly both in price and participation, from an inaugural winner's purse of $100,000 to the present day winner's prize of $1 million -- and in an industry that has seen flat and declining trends overall, NHC tournament play maintains a steady rise.
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