Handicapping is a crucial piece to solving the horse racing puzzle and many horse players spend so much time on that exercise that they neglect an equally important part: the wagering. Canterbury’s Dog Days of Summer Handicapping Tournament combines the importance of both. This is a live bankroll contest that allows players to determine how best to invest the initial bankroll with the goal of ending up with the largest total in the two-day event.
This contest is the first and longest running live bankroll contest in the nation and often draws horse players from across the country seeking to earn a National Handicapping Championship berth. The 24th rendition of Dog Days takes place this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12 and 13. The entry fee is $550 with $400 going to the live bankroll, $100 is entry fee and $50 is NTRA membership fee which allows the winners to earn a berth in the $3 million NHC.
“Dog Days is the best contest of the year,” said Bruce Meyer, who twice finished second in the contest while playing every year. “The starting bankroll is reasonable and winning scores can be attained by betting long shots or favorites, playing horizontal wagers, vertical wagers, whatever your preferred method of wagering is.”
The format calls for entrants to make wagers into any pool on any track of their choosing using the $400 bankroll. The live leader board shows standings throughout the two days. On Sunday afternoon, the contest concludes and the top two players, three if total entries exceed 75, earn that coveted berth in the NHC held in February.
