Piazza from Chicago wins the National Horseplayers Championship

The 26th National Horseplayers Championship was held at Horseshoe Las Vegas on Sunday. Dan Piazza won by holding off a late close from Tom Boyd at the final table. He had steady and sure play from the start.

A financial planner from Chicago named Piazza won the race. He got $825,000, an Eclipse Award as the 2025 horseplayer of the year, and a chance to go to the NHC again next year.

The athlete said, “I didn’t try anything new or get out of my comfort zone.” “That plan set me back on Friday and Saturday.” Sunday was the same.

After three days of racing, Piazza won by building up an imaginary bankroll of $356.52. Boyd from New Providence, NJ, came in second place and won $342.22. Third place went to Ray Hassan from Brooklyn Park, Minn., who won $328.36.

Boyd was behind Piazza by $68.90 before the final table, but he closed the gap by winning $36.20 on Tampa Bay Downs’ ninth race. He closed the gap even more by winning $22.00 in Gulfstream Park’s eighth race.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association holds the NHC every year, and Santa Anita’s sixth race was the last one of the 2025 season. Finally, both Piazza and Boyd bet on 7-1 Commander, who won and took out the board. The Piazza’s win was protected by the 2-1 second choice Yacowlef. Only once in the seven required races at the final table did Piazza win money. He added $2.60 from Tampa Bay Downs’ ninth race.

When it started on Friday morning, the 2025 NHC had 800 bids from 623 players. By Saturday, it had been cut down to 80 semifinalists. The bankrolls built up on days 1, 2, and the semifinals carried over to the final table. The NHC score was settled by the 10 players who were still in the game in seven required races.

“Thank you to everyone who participated in this week’s National Horseplayers Championship,” said Tom Rooney, president and CEO of the NTRA, as he gave Piazza his gifts. “I’m really impressed by how much they love, are good at, and are committed to our sport.” This event is a good reminder of how important horseplayers are to the racing business all year long. Their participation and bets not only make the races more exciting, but they also help Thoroughbred racing keep growing and being successful. We’re proud of all the competitors, but especially our 2025 NHC winner, Dan Piazza.

Prizes and cash given out over three days added up to $4,878,415, with more than $3 million in cash alone.

The Silver Sunday event was open to everyone in the tourney, and there was no fee to enter. William Casper and Bob Jeffery tied for first place and shared the $21,075 prize. Each of them earned $125.60 from seven required races and ten choice races.

After the NHC weekend, there was the annual winners dinner, where awards were given out and the 11th NHC hall of fame class, which included Jim Benes, Cheryl McIntyre, and Rich Nilsen, was inducted.

There were 623 horseplayers at this year’s NHC, with about 150 people having two entries.

Setting up the NHC competition in this way is meant to be the best way to find winners. Based on mythical $2 win-place bets, players try to build up the biggest amount possible. A day ahead of time, the required races were set: six on day 1, eight on day 2, and seven at the final table.