NHC Handicapping Challenge a Win-Win Event

There was a lot of money on the line for charities at this year's National Handicapping Championship. (Photos courtesy of Horsephotos.com/NTRA)
The other day, I was asked if I would be a celebrity participant in the NTRA Charity Handicapping Challenge. My response? Sure.
First, let’s take a second to laugh at the fact that I can be considered a celebrity. A little over six months ago, at the end of June, I received the incredible honor of being crowned Miss Connecticut 2014. In September, just about eight weeks after the state pageant, I competed in Atlantic City, N.J. for the title of Miss America, and was a top-15 semifinalist. These accolades did not come without hard work, sacrifice, and maybe a little bit of luck, but at the end of the day I always think of myself first as “Acacia.” I still hold the title of Miss Connecticut, and will continue to do so until this coming June when I will crown a new winner, but sometimes it really is surreal to hear myself referred to as a celebrity.
Anyway, I agreed to participate in the challenge, where the celebrity players were competing for the grand prize: $5000 to be donated to Old Friends Farm and $5000 to be donated to the charity of his or her choice.
Old Friends is a wonderful organization that is very close to my heart, and I know many in the racing industry feel the same way. I was happy to represent Thoroughbred aftercare, as I was also playing for the nonprofit that I founded a few years ago, Racing for Home, Inc., which is dedicated to retraining off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) for new careers beyond the racetrack.
The participants found out the eight mandatory races for the challenge and were allowed to start making picks on Friday night, and, ever the competitor, I was determined to put my best foot forward. I spent hours watching past races, taking note of Beyer figures, and studying the breeding and connections of each entrant.
My mom was really excited and started telling everyone I was going to win. I told her to calm down, I didn’t have a chance.
But secretly, I was out for blood.
By 11:30 a.m. on Saturday (all of our picks had to be in by noon), I had settled on my top two horses in each race. One horse to win, and an alternate. This challenge was a pick and pray format. I submitted my picks, and then it was time to pray. And pray I did.
ACACIA COURTNEY’S PICKS
 
The first contest race, race two at Gulfstream Park, came and went with my long shot choice, Courage Belongs, finishing off the board. No matter. There were plenty more chances still to come.
The second race, the fourth at Tampa Bay Downs, found me bouncing up and down on my couch as my choice, Musical Journey, crossed the finish line first. This was it. My moment to shine was beginning. I was on the cusp of something great.
The horses at Oaklawn Park in the fourth race had a different opinion. Long shot Awol Adam shocked everyone and paid a nice $59.00. Alright, then.
 
The next race, at Santa Anita, I was sure of. I had watched race replays and loved Sheer Pleasure’s running style. Did my horse win? Nope.
The eighth at Oaklawn brought another no show, as did the seventh race back at Santa Anita. I was beginning to lose hope, as I slowly started moving down the leaderboard. While still solidly in 15th place, I saw all my career ambitions in the racing industry flash before my face, as I started to believe I would never be able to prove myself. In case you haven’t guessed yet, I’m a bit of an overachiever.
With two races left, I was forced to abandon my spot in front of the television and start to get ready for the evening’s appearance. Such is the life of Miss Connecticut. And yet, makeup half done, hair in hot rollers, reppin’ my Saratoga sweatshirt like a champ, I hurried downstairs to watch the ninth at Santa Anita. Sadly, that race was not the one meant to be my redemption.
Then, all of a sudden, it was time for the last mandatory race of the day. I had to follow along on Twitter while in the car on my way to a birthday party where I was a special guest. It was the ninth race at Golden Gate, and I had chosen a horse with 6-1 odds that several others seemed to doubt. Presidentsky, a bay gelding with that Danzig blood coursing through his veins, was the first to cross the finish line in the $27,000 allowance, and now holds a very special place in my heart (as a horse that makes you money, hypothetical or not, often does). His win shot me up to tenth place, and while Bob Neumeier took the top spot (and come on, who could feel bad losing to Bob Neumeier?), I was ecstatic with my finish.
CHALLENGE WINNER BOB NEUMEIER
 
Yes, I had wanted to prove that I was not simply someone who liked to watch the pretty horses run, but instead was a woman who had done my homework and understood both the sport and the game. More than anything, though, I had wanted to prove to myself that I was capable of taking something like this on. Was I nervous? YEAH. But was I glad I did it? Very. And, perhaps most importantly, I had a great time in the process.
Whether we are playing for charity with a hypothetical bankroll or we are winning and losing our own very real money in big tournament, picking the races is not easy. And yet, on any given day, here we are all over again, strategically making our plan of attack as we watch races across the country. Baby still needs a new pair of shoes.