Conte’s name back up in lights

There was a familiar name atop a DRF Tournaments feeder leaderboard on Wednesday: 2009 Horseplayer of the Year John Conte. Conte won his way into the April 1 qualifier for the Monmouth Pick Your Prize contest.

Conte’s résumé is second to none in the contest world. In addition to his National Handicapping Championship win, he also ran third in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge for a six-figure score. Conte was absent on the contest scene for much of 2016 while busy owning a small stable of horses and playing with his 14 grandchildren. But now that he’s discovered online contest feeders, where he can buy in for a little with a chance to win a lot, he figures to be playing a lot more.

In addition to his success in the contest room, he’s had success on screen. Conte was one of the players featured in the “Horseplayers” TV show. “So many people have stopped me over the last few years and said they decided to get into contests because of that show,” said Conte, 74. “I’ll get off the train, and they’ll stop me and want to take a selfie. I can only imagine what it’s like to be a real star.”

In the contest world, Conte is as big a star as there is.

If you want to join Conte and other top contest players at the biggest contest events, there is plenty of action this weekend on DRF Tournaments. Every day from Wednesday through Sunday, there are feeders, matchup events, and credit builders, including new winner-takes-all contests.

Saturday’s featured event is the first Round 1 qualifier for the Triple Play event, where players can win into the Keeneland Grade One Gamble, Santa Anita Preakness contest, and Monmouth’s Pick Your Prize in one fell swoop. The buy-in for Saturday’s all-in qualifier is $110, and the top 10 percent advance. Keep an eye out for $25 feeders to win into future firstround events. Players also have the option to buy into Round 2 on Sunday, April 16, directly for $1,000.

On Sunday, DRFT is hosting its final qualifier for the Horse Player World Series, which takes place next weekend at the Orleans in Las Vegas. The buy-in is $90, and one in 19 entries will win their $1,500 HPWS seats.

Also on Sunday, players can put up $225 for a chance to win their $5,000 packages to Santa Anita’s Preakness contest. Packages include seats to the live-bankroll event and $500 in travel.

For a full list of contests, go to tournaments.drf.com.