News & Barn notes

$2,000 Pick Your Prize Handicapping Contest Set For Saturday At Monmouth; $300 NHC Qualifier On Sunday Has $100K Bonus At Stake

June 10, 2026

Monmouth Park’s biggest handicapping contest of the season will take place Saturday with a $2,000 Pick Your Prize handicapping event, with the added inducement of a $100,000 bonus if an on-site player wins that contest and the $300 NHC Qualifier handicapping contest that follows on Sunday.

Based on 200 entries, the total prize pool for the $2,000 Pick Your prize contest will consist of 18 NHC seats, 4 BCBC seats and $65,000 cash. Those prizes will make up the 28 total prizes available on the “prize board.”

The Top 4 finishers will receive two selections from the prize board. Finishers 5 through 24 get one selection.

Final prizes will be determined by the total number of entries. Total prize pool is expected to approach $300,000.

All prizes will be announced on contest day.

Pick Your Prize players must be registered by June 12. No walkups will be accepted. Check-in is from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

To register, contact Brian Skirka at bskirka@monmouthpark.com.

Pick Your Prize players will be competing on site and on line through TVG, Xpressbet and HPI.

The $2,000 total per person covers the $1,000 non-refundable entry fee and a $1,000 tournament bankroll.

Wagering is restricted to Monmouth Park’s 10-race Haskell Preview Day card, with a contest betting format consisting of win, place, show, exacta and daily double wagering.

Players must bet a minimum of five races, with a minimum wager of $150. There is no maximum on wagers.

For on-site players, the contest center will be the Turf Club, where a buffet lunch will be served.

Sunday’s $300 handicapping contest is restricted to walk-up registration only and will feature win, place and show wagering on races from Monmouth Park, Belmont Park and Churchill Downs. Players must bet a minimum of 10 races (there is no maximum) and must bet a minimum of five Monmouth Park races.

The $300 covers the $150 non-refundable entry fee and a $150 contest bankroll.

The top two finishers earn a seat to the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship.

Registration will take place 11a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Registration will be on the first floor of the Clubhouse. Players can wager on any self-service machine.

For out-of-town contest players looking for a hotel, Monmouth Park discounts are available at the following hotels: Doubletree Tinton Falls, Sheraton Eatontown, Holiday Inn Express West Long Branch, and Homewood Suites Eatontown.

Visit Monmouth Park’s partner hotels page to book a stay through a special link that gives a 10 percent discount: https://www.monmouthpark.com/partner-hotel/.