News & Barn notes
Hartmann’s Horse Hits Big to Capture NHC Qualifier
September 25, 2019
Mary Ann Hartmann of Ocala, FL came to Monmouth Park’s $250 NHC Qualifier on Saturday, September 21 with one horse in mind to bet. Call it her “play of the day.” About seven hours after she arrived, Cirque paid $131.50 in the Belmont finale and gave Hartmann – who bet $30 to win, $40 to place and $50 to show on the 65-1 shot – the contest win.
Hartmann bested a field that included 126 entries. She turned her starting $150 bankroll into $2,969.10 by betting races from Monmouth Park, Belmont and Churchill. Contest players could only bet win, place and/or show and needed to bet a minimum of $15 per race.
By finishing first, Hartmann takes home the first-place cash prize of $3,000 as well as a seat to this year’s National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas. Second-place finisher Bernard Reilly also is headed to the NHC.
Monmouth Park’s next handicapping contest is coming up on Sunday, October 13. The $250 Monmouth/Woodbine NHC Qualifier will award two seats to the 2020 NHC.
In total, the Top 10 finishers from Saturday are:
| Finish | Name | Bankroll | Prize |
| 1st | Mary Ann Hartmann | $2,969.10 | $3,000+NHC Seat |
| 2nd | Bernard Reilly | $2,634 | $1,200+NHC Seat |
| 3rd | Anthony Doino | $766.20 | $720 |
| 4th | Suresh B. | $728.25 | $420 |
| 5th | Terrence Cook | $563.10 | $210 |
| 6th | Stephen Banks | $451.75 | $90 |
| 7th | Ken Jordan | $423 | $90 |
| 8th | Mathew Levy | $310.50 | $90 |
| 9th | Shirley Wolff | $201.25 | $90 |
| 10th | Stephen Fitzpatrick | $172.50 | $90 |