Longtime Brisnet.com Customer Wins NHC Tour

By: BRISNET.COM

                   

Photo of Bryan Wagner

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        Contact: Liz Harris

Phone: 502-636-4474

Liz@kyderby.com

 

Longtime Brisnet.com Customer Wins NHC Tour

Now Eligible for $2 Million Bonus

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010) – Churchill Downs Incorporated-owned Brisnet.com handicapping data customer Bryan Wagner captured the second annual NTRA National Handicapping Championship Tour as the top handicapper in 2009, earning a $100,000 first-place prize. Wagner is now eligible for a $2 million bonus if he goes on to win the title later this month at the January 29-30 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas.

 

Wagner, a 66-year-old insurance executive, racehorse owner, and Republican Party leader from New Orleans, has been a customer of Brisnet.com since 2002. His wife Judy Wagner became the first and only woman to win the NTRA Handicapper of the Year title in January 2001. Remarkably, Judy finished in a tie for second on the 2009 NHC Tour Leaderboard, adding an additional payoff of $37,500 for the Wagner family. Judy split the $75,000 runner-up prize with Steven Hartshorn of Newport Beach, Calif.

Rounding out the top five in the 2009 NHC Tour standings was Mike Labriola of Richmond, Calif. and Shawn Turner of Middletown, Md., who earned $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. The top five overall NHC Tour point earners also earn automatic berths in the 12th annual NHC in January 2011. Each year roughly 300 handicappers win their way into the annual event which features a purse of over $1 million.

 

"I have been a subscriber to Brisnet.com for many years and the information has not only been invaluable to me as a horse player but also as an owner," explained Wagner. "The BRIS information is accurate and easy to use.  My personal favorite is the Insider Picks and Power Plays which I use as my racing program.  Brisnet.com was a very important part of my success this year in the NHC Tour."

 

"We were very excited to see Bryan win the NHC Tour," stated Richard Nilsen, Director of Marketing for Brisnet.com. "Bryan and Judy have truly been wonderful ambassadors for our great sport."

 

The Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship is the most important tournament of the year for horseplayers and is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. This year, an estimated 100,000 people attempted to qualify for the 2010 NHC at Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas.  Players who join the NHC Tour earn points for top finishes in NHC qualifying events held during the year. Membership in the Tour costs an annual fee of $125.

 

Churchill Downs Incorporated's two online companies, Brisnet.com and TwinSpires.com, are sending a total of 24 players to the NHC in Las Vegas later this month.  Nine members of Brisnet.com have won the NTRA Handicapper of the Year title in the 10 years it has been held.

 

Churchill Downs Incorporated, (“CDI”), headquartered in Louisville, Ky., owns and operates four world renowned Thoroughbred racing facilities: Arlington Park in Illinois, Calder Casino and Race Course in Florida, Churchill Downs Race Track in Kentucky and Fair Grounds Race Course in Louisiana.  CDI operates slot and gaming operations in Louisiana and Florida.  CDI tracks are host to North America’s most prestigious races, including the Arlington Million, the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks, the Louisiana Derby and the Princess Rooney, along with hosting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on Nov. 5-6, 2010.  CDI also owns off-track betting facilities, TwinSpires.com and other advance-deposit wagering channels, television production, telecommunications and racing service companies such as BRIS and a 50-percent interest in the national cable and satellite network, HorseRacing TV, which supports CDI’s network of simulcasting and racing operations.  CDI’s Entertainment Group produces the HullabaLOU Music Festival at Churchill Downs which premieres on July 23-25, 2010.  CDI trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol CHDN and can be found at www.ChurchillDownsIncorporated.com