Bloodstock agent Morris leads national handicapping contest

Seth Morris, a fulltime bloodstock agent from Long Island, N.Y., led thepack of 765 entries with a bankroll of $269.38, giving him a $25.48 lead goinginto Sunday’s semifinal round of the National Horseplayers Championship atHorseshoe Las Vegas.

“I’m exhausted, but I’m so excited,” saidMorris, a fourth-time NHC competitor who grew up 15 minutes from RooseveltRaceway and used to use his paper-route money to go there after school with hisfriends.

Morris has spent much of his adult life as anavid fan in addition to being part of several ownership groups. He started LongLake Stables, which has had stakes winners such as Stan the Man and Tammy theTorpedo.

When asked what finishing at the top of thefield after day 2 meant to him, Morris said, “This is a dream to be in thefront of the NHC. Last week was a dream, too, when I bought the most expensivehorse I’ve ever purchased and got someone to believe in my bloodstockcapabilities. This is all a dream.”

The NHC field was reduced to the top 10percent of players after Friday. The highest 10 cumulative scores after the semifinal roundSunday morning will fill out the final table in the afternoon. Bankrollsamassed during day 1, day 2 and the semifinal round will roll over to the finaltable with the 10 remaining players settling the NHC score in seven assigned,mandatory races.

The 77 semifinalists include four women – ChristyMoore, Alexa Zepp, Linda Rodríguez, and Jeannie King. Moore and Zepp have twoentries apiece moving into semifinals. Three semifinal-entries, including twofor Tony Zhou and one for Michael Mulvihill, will be playing for a $1 millionbonus opportunity courtesy of Hawthorne Race Course. The 2018 champion ChrisLittlemore is still in the field as is newly inducted NHC Hall of Famer Brett Wiener.

As the leading scorer from day 2, Morris earneda Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge seat. Karl Broberg finished second on day 2and won $5,000 in cash. Dan Horvat finished third and won $2,500.

The 2024 NHC winner will take home a $800,000and will be honored as horseplayer of the year at the 2025 Eclipse Awards. Cashprizes offered over the three days total $3,013,550, The top 77 finishers areguaranteed cash prizes of at least $10,150 each.

The NHC format is meant to be the bestpossible test of picking winners. Players attempt to earn the highest possiblebankroll based on mythical $2 win-place wagers on one horse per race. Assigned mandatoryraces, six on day 1, eight on day 2 and seven at the final table, are announcedat least 24 hours prior to each contest day.

Haydon wins charity challenge

Jamie Haydon, president of the Grayson-JockeyClub Research Foundation, topped a field of 57 players to win the 10th annual,$10,000 NHC charity challenge.

“I could not be more thrilled to win thisevent on behalf of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and all horses,”Haydon said. “I was professionally involved with operating the first five NHCevents, so this is really special for me. Horses, owners and gamblers make thegame go. On behalf of all three great charities, thanks to all of them.”

Haydon accumulated a point total of $68.50 fromeight mythical $2 win-place wagers he made in the contest races from racetracksthat were also part of the NHC. He named the foundation as his charity ofchoice to receive $5,000. As part of the winner’s prize, the ThoroughbredAftercare Alliance and Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund will receive $2,500 eachin Haydon’s name.