Contests give players many chances to cash

The opening of the Del Mar and Saratoga meets this week signals a bevy of contests and tournaments in Las Vegas race books. For local and visiting horseplayers, map out your schedule, budget some bankroll and prepare to wager a little to try to win a lot.

The action begins today with a one-day contest at the Orleans. It’s a $100 buy-in, and the top three finishers will get a free entry worth $1,000 into the 2011 Horseplayer World Series.

Also at Coast Casinos is the popular Gold Coast Summer Classic from Thursday to July 31. The entry fee is $400, and 10 seats to the Horseplayer World Series will be up for grabs. The top 50 finishers will share in the prize money.

Station Casinos has hosted all-properties contests this year leading to the 2011 Daily Racing Form /NTRA National Handicapping Championship at Red Rock in January. A $20 satellite contest is held every Friday at all Station and Fiesta properties. Single-property, $200 qualifiers will be at Santa Fe (July 31) and Green Valley Ranch (Aug. 28), each awarding a seat in the NHC.

The Las Vegas Hilton will be back with its SuperBook Saturdays contest during Del Mar, with a $30 entry fee. And it’s never too soon to enter the Hilton’s Pick the Ponies tournament from Aug. 26 to 28. The entry fee is $400 during the early sign-up period.

Wynn Las Vegas will host the $125,000 guaranteed Race Handicapping Challenge on Aug. 6 and 7. The entry fee is $2,000, but the rich prize pool makes it worthwhile.

Jerry’s Nugget will host the Del Mar handicapping contest each Saturday. The prize pool is $500, and entry is $10.

The South Point Six contest will continue every Thursday in its new race book. The entry fee is $20. There are two ways to win: highest combined win payoffs or win six-of-six races for the carry-over jackpot.

Too often we hear about the lack of marketing done at racetracks to recruit new players and keep existing ones. That is not the case in Las Vegas, as proven by the myriad promotions that provide value for horseplayers.

■ NEW JERSEY BUNGLE — The state of New Jersey is proving how shortsighted politicians can be, as the state continues to provide subsidies to losing Atlantic City casinos but not the state’s Meadowlands and Monmouth Park racetracks.

The racing product we see is the tip of the iceberg of an industry that employs thousands of New Jersey residents and supports scores of state businesses.

Richard Eng’s horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com.