King of the Turf this Saturday

FRANKLIN, Ky. (Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025) — Horseplayers across the country will have their handicapping skills tested with the annual King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge, presented by Race Lens, on Saturday’s 12-race showcase Kentucky Downs card.

Total purse money offered Saturday is more than $14 million, surpassed only by Breeders’ Cup Championship Saturday. Only two of the 12 fields attracted fewer than 12 entries — both stakes with 11 horses.

The King of the Turf has become one of horse racing’s most popular handicapping tournaments. That’s because of Kentucky Downs’ full fields, high quality and tremendous betting opportunities but also because one person will be awarded the instantly iconic Global Tote King of the Turf Championship Belt that signifies the National Turf Handicapper of the Year.

“Kentucky Downs and its King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge have both thrived in recent years as a result of world-class turf racing,” said Brian Skirka, the King of the Turf tournament director. “Saturday’s monster card is no different with six races worth at least $2 million and an average field size of over 12 horses per race. If there was ever a day for a premier handicapping contest, this is it. The King of the Turf prize pool – filled with BCBC seats, NHC seats, and cash – promises to be just as loaded as the race card. Plus, don’t forget about the King of the Turf Championship Belt!

“This is definitely a contest that players cannot afford to miss.”

The King of the Turf is a live-money, online tournament which has a $2,500 buy-in: $1,000 for the entry fee that goes toward prizes and the player’s $1,500 bankroll. The competition features win, place, show, exacta and/or daily double wagering. Participants must wager on a minimum of five races, with no maximum. The minimum bet per race is $300, with no maximum.

There’s still time to get in at a far lower price point.

Horsetourneys.com is hosting multiple online feeder ($46 entry fee) and direct qualifying ($197) tournaments Thursday and Friday that give players the opportunity to earn the $2,500 King of the Turf buy-in. Horsetourneys already has awarded more than 20 entries into the King of the Turf extravaganza.

The first-place King of the Turf finisher — determined by having the largest bankroll at the contest’s end — will receive a prize package to the 2026 National Horseplayers Championships (NHC) next March in Las Vegas or an entry into the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) in November, worth $10,000. The winner also will receive more than $25,000 cash (based on 100 entries), as well as retaining his or her winning bankroll. And, of course, there’s The Belt, patterned after boxing’s championship belts.

At least five NHC packages (NHC seat, flight reimbursement capped at $400 and hotel stay) and two BCBC berths are guaranteed to be awarded to the King of the Turf’s top finishers. Additional prizes will be awarded based on the total number of entries. The tournament host takes no money out of the entry fees, with 100 percent going to the prize pool and players’ bankrolls.

The King of the Turf tournament is played online only through Xpressbet, TVG, 4NJBETS and HPI (Woodbine Entertainment Group’s advance deposit wagering platform).

Email King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge Tournament Director Brian Skirka at [email protected] with questions and to register for the King of the Turf.

Kentucky Downs staged two King of the Turf play-in competitions, presented by Race Lens, on its opening-day Aug. 28 card ($300 buy-in) and Sunday Aug. 31’s races ($400 buy-in).

The opening Thursday contest saw two NHC seat winners and five King of the Turf entries awarded. Two NHC seats were awarded Sunday as well, along with nine King of the Turf seats. Sunday’s contest winner, Jill Matzat, already had earned the maximum two NHC seats and instead was awarded $5,000.

Richard Nilsen won a King of the Turf seat both Thursday and Sunday, giving him two entries.

Thursday’s top five finishers (all received King of the Turf seats) with scores: Dennis Decauwer ($2,705.80), Matt Miller ($1,649.09), Richard Nilsen ($1,076.00), Bob Hogan ($850.85), Mikael Christen ($850.72).

Sunday’s top nine finishers (all received King of the Turf seats): Jill Matzat ($2,263.84), Philip Fairbanks ($1,913.60), Mark Odorisio ($1,905.60), Barbara Small ($1,566,72), Benjamin Posen ($1,391.40), Richard Nilsen ($1,056.08), Jay Coatta ($1,002.10), Robert Gianquitti ($833.65), Joseph Mckay ($800.73).

This is the first year that Race Lens — the interactive past-performance product from Equibase, the Thoroughbred industry’s official database for racing information and statistics — has sponsored the King of the Turf. More information about Race Lens can be found at Equibase.com/RaceLens.