PRM DRF Qualifier

[Donnie]

PRM mailed me the rules for the DRF Qualifying contest to be held on June 22nd. Top two spots are sent to Vegas....payouts down to the top 10 finishers. $50 entry fee, 15 races (the 10 at PRM live and 5 others to be determined). Pick one horse...you collect the win and place money...highest return wins. Highest person gets 25% of the entry fees as well as the trip to Vegas. The entry fees are also scaled out to the top 10...down to 5% for 10th. Only one buy in per person and entries close I think a week prior to the event. There are caps on the win and the place...I think 35-1 on win and 20-1 on place....will have to re-read the info. They are also having a qualifier in Sept for the other two slots, but that will cover 5 TB and 5 Q races.

Offer still stands for a steak dinner on the house for anyone coming in for the event. Sue and I will both be entering...and since it is night racing...I would imagine the drinking will be heavy afterwards!

If you have any questions or need more info, I believe you can sign up by mail, let me know and I will email it to you!

[George]

Thanks for the update.....am planning on being there. More interested in the free meal and the sociable company than the contest, but would appreciate entry form if you get them. If you need my e-mail will post it.

[Glen]

Sounds great Donnie. I'm gonna try and make it there. As a side note, LS has thier tourney the following week (i think). You all are welcome to here as well. Although I live in a 1 bedroom box, there is plenty of room on the carpet and free microwave hotdogs and ramen noodles are on me.

[Ken Massa]

Great fun Donnie, thanks for the invite. It's a bit too close to my family vacation and the seminar to make it to Des Moines in late June. Was wondering if I could mail you $50 and you could find a proxy for me in the contest. Got any friends or neighbors you could drag along to sign up and play my picks from email ? Saturate the contest with HTR people and someone is bound to win it and get the free trip to NTRA Vegas party in January. I'll be rooting for Suzie!

Can you FedX my steak and margaritas? Medium-well / lots of salt.

[hurrikane]

Donnie, sounds great! Unfortunately the week before is the Del tourney and a couple weeks later is Vegas. don't think I will be able to get there.

I like Kens idea. Get someone to play my picks and fed ex the steak and margarita!

[Donnie]

Well anyone who is interested we'd be more than happy to "host" you with a backyard BBQ and some refreshing beverages. Obviously this contest doesn't draw a real big crowd here in the midwest, but they do have a limit of 200 entrants. I will copy over the rules and post them here later tonight when I get home. Everyone's welcome, but remember....I've got dibs on the top spot in the contest!! (yeah, right!)

:D

[tommyc]

What's the latest on the PRM tournament, we still gonna' make it an HTR party ?

Best to you and Suzie....

tommyc

[Glen]

TC says he might be buying a tournament bus for road trips. If he buys the mini van and will let me hitch with him, I'm there. Donnie, what airport did you say is best to fly into?

[Donnie]

Sorry Tommy....was planning on posted the complete set of rules here...yes...the BBQ is still on for those interested...I will have to post a pic of our new deck/porch....she's a bute!

I will re-type the contest rules....yes, only 2 people will qualify for the Vegas trip...the contest is comprised of the 10 PRM races that night (June 22nd) and 5 others they add to it! There is a deadline to sign up and I will do my best in the next couple days to find out how many people have already entered!

Glen....either the KC airport, which is about 3 hours away, or the OMaha airport which is about 2 hours away. Flying directly into Des Moines can be spendy, but if you wanna save a couple hundred bucks, I can come pick you up, or I can send someone!

Rules will be forthcoming....anyone else who may be planning on attending, let me know. I think the cats know something's up and they are starting to act nervous! :D

[REBel]

DONNIE: I will try and be available to pick up those flying to Des Moines International and deliver them to their motel, PRM or your place.

Just keep me informed.

[huskermatt]

Hey if someone is seriously considering flying to Omaha they could ride up with me as I live in Omaha. I would go if I didn't have to drive alone. My wife hates the races though, so she wont go with me.

[Donnie]

Just got off the phone with the PRM promotions director, Carrie. Here's the scoop on our little tournament:

1. Entries must be recieved by mail before Friday June 14th with payment if you plan to enter by mail. She expects to be taking entries up to the day of the event in person, but if it fills you are out of luck!
2. I asked if she expects it to fill and she was very nice and truthful, that although she doesn't expect it to fill, based on past years, she cannot guarantee that it won't. She was very interested in the fact that I told her more of you guys would show up had they been giving 4 trips away with one contest than having it broken over two contests.
3. I mentioned I was in the contest 2 years ago but couldn't make it this past year. I told her I thought we had 52 in 2 years ago, and I asked if she knew how many went last year...she mentioned "about the same number". But she said they weren't sure if that number would hold this year, since it's split between the two contests. I mentioned I thought that may hurt their turn out, and although she didn't come right out and say it, I gathered she may have felt the same way.
4. I don't think they have a whole lot of people signed up so far. All of the other contests we run here are free, and to ask an Iowan to pay for something we normally get free, well, that's like accusing a priest of molestation!!

I have re-typed the rules below. Sorry if there are any typos...get over it! Once again...any HTR-ers are invited to my place for a free steak dinner and libations either before or after the contest. One thing to keep in mind if you are making plans...we do night racing here, so the contest will run into the 10-11 o'clock PM hours. This being said, if you come to town the late-afternoon before, we can hit the track the previous night for fun. Free parking, free soft beverages...hell, I think even the programs are free anymore. Anyone who wants to use my house as a base feel free. If you prefer to secure a motel room, anyone who is coming, let me know, I will approach the local hotels and see if we can get a discount rate. There are 4 hotels with 2/5 of a mile from my place!

Here are the rules...you may not get rich off the prizes, but I think the odds of 2 out of 50 are pretty good for the trip! (50 entries means 1st will pay around $625. 2nd will be @ $500, 3rd- $375, fourth- $250, and 5th thru 10th will be $125.)

1. Must be 21 years of age or older to participate.
2. Prairie Meadows’ Qualifying Tournaments for the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship will be held on Saturday June 22 and Saturday, September 28.
3. Prairie Meadows will send the top 2 participants from the Saturday, June 22 event and the top 2 participants from the Saturday, September 28 event to the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas in January of 2003.
4. Registration will open on Saturday, April 13, 2002.
5. Tournament entry fee is $50 per event, payable upon registration.
6. Registration will be accepted at the Racing Center on Clubhouse Level 4 or by mail. Mail registrations with participant name, address, phone number, event date(s) and registration fee(s) to: Prairie Meadows, Marketing Department, ATTN: Stephanie, PO Box 1000, Altoona, IA 50009. The deadline to receive registrations by mail for the June 22 event is Friday, June 14 and for the September 28 event the deadline is Friday, September 20.
7. Tournament is open to the first 250 entrants per Qualifying Tournament Event.
8. On the day of the Tournament, only one entry per person. Multiple entries will result in disqualification of all entries for that individual.
9. All participants are responsible for ensuring each wager is placed correctly.
10. Each participant must place each wager personally. No person shall directly or indirectly act as an intermediary, transmitter, or agent in placing wagers for the participant, unless authorized by Tournament officials prior to the start of the Tournament.
11. Entries must be submitted five minutes prior to the post of each race of each Tournament. The participant is responsible for ensuring their entry has been accepted, regardless of the circumstances.
12. On June 22, fifteen races are required including all Prairie Meadows races and six additional races that will be pre-selected. On September 28, fifteen races are required including all Prairie Meadows races and six additional races that will be pre-selected.
13. Each participant must place a mythical $2 win and a mythical $2 place wager on the fifteen required races.
14. If one of the fifteen races is cancelled, no races will be substituted. In the event that both the selection and the alternate are scratched, the post time favorite will be used as the selection.
15. In case a participant’s selection is a late scratch, it is the entrant’s responsibility to indicate their alternate on the Tournament entry form prior to submitting their entry. Alternates are to be recorded on the entry form and submitted 5 minutes prior to the post of each race of the Tournament as indicated in Rule 10.
16. Wagers are limited to WIN and PLACE only.
17. There is a CAP placed on ALL PAYOFFS. The WIN cap is 20/1 ($42). The PLACE cap is 10/1 ($22). Even if the actual payoffs on the selected horse is higher, the participant will receive a maximum of $42 for a win and $22 for place.
18. Participant must list each horse’s program number for each race on the entry blank.
19. The top two participants from the June 22 event and the top two participants from the September 28 event will be determined by the highest mutuel payoff total accumulation.
20. In the event of a tie, the higher placing will be awarded to the participant with the greatest number of winners. In the further event of a tie, the higher placing will be awarded to the participant who guesses closest to the winners running time of the final race of the Tournament.
21. Prairie Meadows will send the top two participants from the June 22 event and the top two participants from the September 28 event to the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas in January of 2003. Trip includes round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for each participant.
22. All entry fees per Qualifying Tournament event will be distributed to the top ten participants in that event. 25% to the top qualifier, 20% to the second qualifier, 15% to the third participant, 10% to the fourth participant, and participants in 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th will receive 5%.
23. Employees of Prairie Meadows are not eligible to participate.
24. Prairie Meadows reserves the right to modify/cancel this promotion without prior notice.


Please let me know if you are interested in meeting! I need to get those steaks marinating!! Otherwise, I'll just plan on kicking your ass in the tournament!!:D

[George]

Donnie......thanks for the update. Will send in my entry tomorrow. Not a tournament player but would hate to see you get in the Vegas contest too "easy". With my wife "advising" me could be stiff competition for you :)

Part of reason for coming is to see PRM. From watching TVG feeds looks like my kind of track.
Also love barbequed cat !! Preferably not at 11:00 pm at night.

Will probably arrive late the night before. Don't worry about hotel discounts but would appreciate your reccomendation on a nice one to stay in. Planning on seeing you in June.

[Donnie]

George,
You gonna be flying your plane into the Ankeny airport....it sits 1/2 mi from the hotels and less than 1 mile from my house! Am thinking we will have the BBQ the afternoon of the contest.

Trust me, I have no delusions of getting an easy trip into the tournament....would be glad if it works out that way! But I would just be happy to see ANY HTR-er get in!

[George]

Donnie......the Ankenny airport sounds intriging but think we will drive. Every time I fly to a track seems like bad weather sets in and then am stuck there and/or taking unnecessary risks. Thinking of giving up flying as am getting too forgetful. There are certain things one cannot overlook when flying.

Am sure no tournament is easy. Will be hard for me as by nature am a "hedger" and picking just one horse will wear me out. I think with your knowledge of local talent that you may have a good shot at qualifying for the DRF. Hope so.

BTW, my advisor announced she is entering the contest so my "edge" won't be available. Gonna have to judge "cute names" on my own.

Looking forward to it.

[tommyc]

Donnie...what's your home zip code so I can get a map from here to there. I plan to arrive in the area on Friday in my new Mex-Mobile...no way I could pass up the steaks and beer and it's a good distance for a "shake-down" trip. Look forward to it !

tommyc

[Donnie]

Tommy,
The zip for Ankeny is 50021. Glad to hear you're gonna make it....ya better bone up on those Iowa horses!
Glen gonna help you drive the wagon? If so, I guess we'll see ya on Sunday!!:D

[George]

Donnie......sent in my entry. Wondered if you knew or could find out what other Track we will be playing. Would be nice to "preview" models on it in advance.

[Donnie]

George, I will call them this week to see how far in the future they will have that determined...bad news is that they aren't the best at making a decision...we may not know until we arrive...however, since they are using the home turf for 10 of the races and racing starts at 6:45, you can bet it will be another night track! I'm downloading anything that will be running that night!

[Glen]

Donnie,

Going to try and make travel plans. A couple questions:
1) what time does the tourney start Saturday?
2) the drive from KC, is it a clear highway drive or is there a lot of "cutting and jibbing" through small towns/country roads.

just tring to time my flight/drive info..

Thanks,
glen

[Donnie]

Glen, Although I do not have the exact time of the start, would imagine it will begin with the first PRM race scheduled at 6:45PM Sat night. I will double check this though tomorrow...just got back in off the road and need a tall glass of wine!
As far as the drive from KC...straight up the Interstate, once you get to 35 N-bound, but it isn't too hard to find the cutting and jibbing to get you onto the Interstate. In fact you will go around Des Moines north heading towards Minneapolis only get off at the second Ankeny exit...only .5 of a mile from the exit.
Anyone who is coming let me know....we have two spare bedrooms if you want to limit the cost, and of course, the meals can't be beat (unless of course they are still meowing! Then you better beat them!!) If you'd rather stay in a motel, there are many nearby. Try to time it Glen so you are here in the afternoon...figure we'll eat before heading out to the track...parking and admission is free...soda pop is free....it's the slots that are expensive!!

Let me know if you need anything else!

[tommyc]

Donnie, I still plan to be there...see my post on the Tex-Mex thread.
Thanks !
tommyc

[Glen]

Attn Dallasmites...AA has a special to Des Moines (direct flight) that weekend for $119. Restrictions are you leave after 700PM Friday (Saturday departure ok) and stay Sunday night. They have a flight that returns to DFW monday around 830AM. So don't really have to miss work... Most likely I will book this but just have to iron out a few scheduling issues.

BTW, you have to purchase the ticket by this friday. Go to www.aa.com and look up netsaver rates for the weekend of the 14th-15th.

[Donnie]

Glen!! You planning on being here a whole week??? The contest is the weekend of the 22nd!! If you are signing up by mail, your entry must be recieved by Friday the 13th.

....not that we don't have the room, but you would have to twist my arm pretty hard to get me to spend my vacation in Des Moines!!

[Glen]

he he...thanks for the warning...I better go take a nap...

[hurrikane]

Hmmm....I thought Des Moines IS where Iowians spend their vacation.

Iowians? Iowites? Iowers(pronouced "I owe 'er." Would this be the place divorced men hide out?) What do those crazy heartlanders call themselves

Sorry, slow day..no track access.

[Donnie]

Update (6-19-2002):
For those coming in from out of town---if you did not enter by mail and were planning to sign up in person, your entry must be registered before the last race on Friday night at 10:30. If you are not planning on arriving until Sat, I can sign you up on Fri and you can still participate on Sat. The races will be the 10 races on Sat night which starts at 6:45. They will have the other 5 races posted on their website (www.prairiemeadows.com) by noon tomorrow! She could not confirm whether any of those would be held during the afternoon, as this would not surprise me for them to take one or two earlier from Hollywood, which means the actual contest may start prior to 6:45!!
If you have any questions you may contact Stephanie at 515-967-8527.
Safe trips all!

[George]

Thanks for the headsup on the website. Will check it out later today. Praying for MNR so they probably will do CBY.

See you Saturday!!

George

[Donnie]

Looks like you got your wish on one of the races.....MNR race 2...looks like they want us concentrating on the local talent because the first six, starting at 4:00, are being run first. I will have to check the post times...2 years ago they did not convert the post times to Central Standard and a lot of people tried to bet on races already run!

Looking forward to seeing you and the wife again!

Safe travels!

[MtKen]

Good luck all & good luck Des Moines. Sounds like the Texas Tornadoes are descending upon the heartland!

Having a beer & a shot of agave juice in your honor, no cat on the grill though.

MtKen

[Cliff]

Good luck to all those at the qualifier this weekend! Pick some big ones and try to avoid tequila and/or cat poisoning!

Cliff

[Glen]

Good luck guys. Go get'em.