NTRA, Caesars Extend NHC Partnership, Keeping Horseshoe Las Vegas Through 2029

Horseshoe Las Vegas will remain the home of the National Horseplayers Championship through 2029 after the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Caesars Entertainment announced a new multi-year agreement extension on March 13, the same day the 27th edition of the tournament kicked off on the Las Vegas Strip.

The deal extends a partnership that began in 2020, when the NHC first moved to what was then known as Bally's, referred to at the time as "the soon-to-be Horseshoe Las Vegas" in earlier coverage of prior agreements. Since that move, NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney says the event has grown on every front. "We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Caesars Entertainment and Horseshoe Las Vegas," Rooney said. "Since moving to Horseshoe in 2020, the NHC has seen tremendous growth in player participation, sponsor involvement, and the overall player experience. We look forward to building on all of this with the help of the team at Caesars and Horseshoe Las Vegas in the coming years."

The scale of that growth is reflected in the prize pool. The first NHC, held in 1999, offered total purse money of $200,000. This weekend's edition offers total prizes and awards of more than $5 million, a number that underscores how far the event has traveled in 27 years.

For Caesars, the extension fits a deliberate strategy. Joseph Morris, Senior Vice President of Racing at Caesars Entertainment, drew a direct line between the NHC and the property's history of staging elite competition. "Hosting the NHC for years to come further demonstrates the Caesars commitment to horse racing and aligns well with the Horseshoe Las Vegas legacy of hosting championship-level events like the World Series of Poker," Morris said. "We are proud to support an event that celebrates the skill, dedication and passion of horseplayers and the broader racing community."

The 27th NHC, presented by Caesars Sportsbook, Horseshoe Las Vegas, and Racetrack Television Network, runs through Sunday, March 15. Every participant earned their spot: all qualifiers came through contests hosted by 32 racetracks, casino race books, handicapping contest websites, ADW platforms, simulcast distribution networks, horsemen's associations, media outlets, and other Thoroughbred racing organizations. Qualifying outlets for the 2026 field included Keeneland, Gulfstream Park, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Canterbury Park, Delaware Park, Oaklawn Park, Monmouth Park, Lone Star Park, Los Alamitos, Kentucky Downs, Laurel Park, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Little Red Feather, FanDuel TV, At the Races with Steve Byk, the Breeders' Cup, Horsetourneys.com, Horseplayers.com, TourneyBets, and others. There are no bye-ins to the NHC.

The NHC champion receives more than a trophy. Each year, the winner is honored at the Eclipse Awards alongside the sport's top human and equine performers and is named Horseplayer of the Year, the only handicapping title recognized on racing's biggest annual stage.

Defending that distinction this weekend is Dan Piazza, who won the 2025 NHC and enters the 27th edition as the title holder. With more than $5 million on the line and a venue secured through 2029, the stakes for whoever emerges Sunday have never been higher.