The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has unveiled a landmark increase in prize money for the 2027 National Horseplayers Championship, with next year’s winner set to receive a $1 million cash award alongside an Eclipse Award recognising the contribution of horseplayers to the sport.
The National Horseplayers Championship 2027.
The announcement comes after what many participants described as one of the most dramatic renewals in the 27-year history of the event, further cementing the championship’s status as one of the premier competitions connected to Thoroughbred racing in North America.
The 2027 National Horseplayers Championship will take place from March 5-7 at Horseshoe Las Vegas, located on the Las Vegas Strip. Organisers confirmed that total prize money and awards are expected to exceed $5.5 million, representing another significant step forward for the long-running contest.
NTRA President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Rooney said the growth of the championship since its launch in 1999 has been driven by continued enthusiasm from participants and the many partner organisations staging qualifying events throughout the year.
Rooney noted that the enhanced prize structure reflects the importance of horseplayers within the wider racing industry and described the event as an annual gathering for many of the nation’s leading contest participants.
The National Horseplayers Championship 2027 will also continue the tradition of awarding the champion an Eclipse Award, placing the winner alongside some of racing’s most recognised human and equine achievers.
This year’s championship produced a memorable finish as Dylan Donnelly secured the 2026 title after a demanding three-day, 53-race contest. Donnelly earned $825,000 following a narrow victory and is due to formally receive his Eclipse Award during a Winner’s Circle ceremony at Santa Anita Park this weekend.
Alongside the headline prize increase, the NTRA also confirmed several additional changes for 2027. Every participant in the main championship will once again receive a complimentary entry into the Silver Sunday Contest, a secondary competition requiring selections across mandatory and optional races.
Under revised conditions, racing fans who do not qualify for the main championship will be able to purchase entries into the Silver Sunday Contest for the first time. Officials estimate the contest purse will reach approximately $200,000 while also offering places in the 2028 National Horseplayers Championship.
The NTRA additionally highlighted the success of lower-cost online qualifying contests introduced earlier this year through HorsePlayers.com. Those events, featuring entry fees beginning at $17, have attracted strong participation and are expected to continue throughout the remainder of the season.
Since its inception, the National Horseplayers Championship has grown into the richest and most prestigious tournament of its kind, bringing together qualifiers from racetracks, simulcast venues, off-track facilities and online handicapping competitions across the United States.
For many participants, the National Horseplayers Championship 2027 now represents not only the sport’s ultimate contest title, but also one of the most lucrative prizes available anywhere in racing-related competition.
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