Sunday, April 21, 2013


Pick The Ponies Handicapping Tournament
 LVH – May 1-3, 2013 


Its time for the spring "Pick the Ponies" horse handicapping tournament at the LVH (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton). Pick the Ponies XLVII is held the 3 days prior to the Kentucky Derby so you can see & bet on the "Greatest to Two Minutes in Sports" in Las Vegas !!!


Pick the Ponies was my first handicapping tournament in May 1999 with a fellow handicapper (NYCapper). This May's tournament will be my 20th Pick the Ponies with 5 cashes including a 1st place finish in 2007 and a 2nd in 2001, I consider this the best handicapping tournament for my money. I have entered many other tournaments around Las Vegas / US, but none come close to Pick the Ponies in terms of value and enjoyment.es is a great handicapping tournament series that is held 3 times a year in May (Kentucky Derby Week), August (Travers & Pacific Classic) and the fall tournament in conjunction with the Breeders Cup.

Pick the Ponies is rated as my “BEST” for a number of reasons:
  • Contest is capped at 200 entrants
  • Assigned Seating in the Worlds Largest Race & Sports Book not a hotel ballroom
  • Multiple big-screens, including a massive 15' x 20' screen & individual monitors at each seat
  • Best & Friendliest race book staff in Vegas
  • Free Buffet @ Hilton Buffet next to Sports Book
  • Vegas Weather is great in early November
 I have written a number of blog entries describing the details of this tournament and some tips on how I handicap for this tournament, so take a look at some of my older posts.

Pick the Ponies XLVII


Entry Fee = $ 500 ($450 if before April 22)
Wagering = Win, Place, Show on 10 races / day
Tracks = Designated, TBA
Races = Any Race at designated tracks
Contact = 888-457-3307 (Rosemary or Ray)


Prize Structure (based upon 200 entries)


1st$38,000


2nd$19,000


3rd$9,000


4th & 5th$4,500


'6th - 10th$2,000


'11th - 20th$1,000


'21th - 30th$500







Daily Bonus Prizes (provided by LV Hilton)



1st$2,500


2nd$1,500


3rd$1,000





If you can't be in Kentucky, why not enjoy the excitement in Las Vegas this May!!!

To learn more about the strategy behind winning a tournament buy the book 
Handicapping Contest Handbook, Revised and Updated: A Horseplayer's Guide to Handicapping Tournaments