By the Numbers: National Handicapping Championship

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A “by the numbers” glance at the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship (NHC) Presented by Racetrack Television Network, Sovereign Stable and Treasure Island Las Vegas. This year's event will be held from Jan. 24-26 at Treasure Island Las Vegas.

2,000,000: dollars in bonus money that will go to 2013 NHC Tour winner Brent Sumja if he can also win this weekend’s NHC

1,800,000: dollars in NHC prize money this season

1,500,000: dollars in NHC finals prize money (the rest was awarded to yearlong NHC Tour leaders)

750,000: dollars awarded to the NHC winner Sunday at the conclusion of the finals

3,200: estimated number of NHC Tour players in 2013 (registration for the 2014 Tour is now open here ntra.com/en/nhc/become-a-member)

495: Number of NHC finals entrants

78: NHC players hailing from California, the most of any state or province

77: age of the oldest NHC player (Dick Mueller of White Bear Lake, Minn.)

50: finalists who will advance after the first two full days of competitions

29: women known to be playing in the NHC

23: age of the youngest NHC player (UNLV student David Wang)

15: years the NHC has been held, including this weekend’s NHC XV

12: most NHC appearances by a single player (tied: Sally Goodall, Paul Shurman and David “Trey” Stiles)

10: finalists that will advance to the “Final Table”

10: players who have qualified for the NHC 10 or more times out of 15 possible years

7: past NHC champions playing in this year’s NHC finals

5: past NHC Tour champions playing in this year’s NHC finals

4: married couples represented by entries for both halves (Nicole and Kevin Cox, Karen and Mark Richards, Bryan and Judy Wagner, Brett and Sarah Wiener)

3: Number of days the NHC finals will unfold over, Friday to Sunday

3: finalists among the cast of the new Esquire Network reality series Horseplayers (Kevin Cox, Lee Davis and Christian Hellmers)

1: Eclipse Award for Handicapper of the Year that will go to the NHC winner