The $400,000 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge ("BCBC") will return this fall at Santa Anita Park on November 2nd and 3rd. Players will have an opportunity to qualify for the BCBC through online contests, of which the next scheduled qualifier is this Sunday, June 3rd. (BCQualify.com)
The BCBC is a $10,000 buy-in but the online contests offer an opportunity to win a seat for as little as $100. The next scheduled online contests are two-round events with a $100 entry fee beginning on June 3rd, 10th and 17th. After the first round, the top 10 percent from each of those three 1st rounds move on to the final round of competition on June 24th. At the end of the final round, the top seven players will secure a spot in the BCBC at Santa Anita in November.
Additional online contests are scheduled for July, August, September and October. Players can sign-up for the online contests at BCQualify.com.
The structure of the BCBC provides that $7,500 of the $10,000 entry fee is the player's live bankroll for tournament selections. Unlike a lot of the $2 Win/Place handicapping tournaments, the BCBC allows a player to make Win, Place, Show, Exacta and Trifecta wagers. On the Friday portion of the BCBC, the player must make a minimum wager of $600 per race on at least five races. During Saturday, the minimum rises to $900 per race on at least five races.
First prize is expected to be around $175,000 (plus any winnings from the in-contest wagers). Additionally, the top six finishers at the BCBC qualify for the 2013 DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Contest in Las Vegas.
Below is the online contest schedule for the BCBC during 2012:
| JANUARY/FEBRUARY TWO-ROUND FORMAT | |
| January 15 (SUNDAY): | Round 1 (max 300 entries, $100/entry) |
| January 22 (SUNDAY): | Round 1 (max 300 entries, $100/entry) |
| February 5 (SUNDAY): | Round 1 (max 300 entries, $100/entry) |
| February 12 (SUNDAY): | Round 2 (max 7 (SEVEN) qualifying spots awarded) |
| MARCH TWO-ROUND FORMAT | |
| March 3: | Round 1 (max 300 entries, $100/entry) |
| March 10: | Round 1 (max 300 entries, $100/entry) |
| March 17: | Round 1 (max 300 entries, $100/entry) |
| March 24: | Round 2 (max 7 (SEVEN) qualifying spots awarded) |
| APRIL ONE-DAY FORMAT | |
| April 15 (SUNDAY): | (ONE DAY - 160 max entries - max 5 spots awarded), $400/entry |
| JUNE TWO-ROUND FORMAT | |
| June 3 (SUNDAY): | Round 1 (max 300 entries, $100/entry) |
| June 10 (SUNDAY): | Round 1 (max 300 entries, $100/entry) |
| June 17 (SUNDAY): | Round 1 (max 300 entries, $100/entry) |
| June 24 (SUNDAY): | Round 2 (max 7 (SEVEN) qualifying spots awarded) |
| JULY ONE-DAY FORMAT | |
| July 7: | (ONE DAY - 160 max entries - max 5 spots awarded), $400/entry |
| July 21: | (ONE DAY - 160 max entries - max 5 spots awarded), $400/entry |
| AUGUST TWO-ROUND FORMAT | |
| August 4: | Round 1 (max 300 entries, $100/entry) |
| August 11: | Round 1 (max 300 entries, $100/entry) |
| August 18: | Round 1 (max 300 entries, $100/entry) |
| August 25: | Round 2 (max 7 (Seven) qualifying spots awarded) |
| SEPTEMBER ONE-DAY FORMAT | |
| September 1: | (ONE DAY - 160 max entries - max 5 spots awarded), $400/entry |
| September 15: | (ONE DAY - 160 max entries - max 5 spots awarded), $400/entry |
| OCTOBER ONE-DAY FORMAT | |
| October 6: | (ONE DAY - 160 max entries - max 5 spots awarded), $400/entry |