Horseplayer Corner Featuring Judy Wagner

Judy Wagner won the 2001 National Horseplayers Championship and is the only female to do so. She is a 17-time NHC Qualifier, NHC Hall of Fame member, and she serves on the Board of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association as the Horseplayer representative.

How did you get interested in handicapping contests?

My late husband Bryan got me interested in handicapping contests in 1994. He was an avid horseplayer and an owner; he always had a love for the sport from his early teen years. It was late in 1999 and Bryan wanted a change of pace and said “let’s go to handicapping contests.” At the time, there were no online qualifiers, it was all on track.

Bryan really wanted to do it but said he only would if I would go and play with him – so I did. The first contest I played in I qualified for the NHC in the spring of 2000. This contest was in Las Vegas at the MGM. When we went to NHC the next year I stayed on the 13th floor and it was January 13th when I won the NHC – I’ll never forget it.

How does it feel to be the ONLY woman to have ever won the National Horseplayers Championship?

I have mixed feelings about it, I mean who wouldn’t love being the queen? People have been so kind and generous with positive comments to me over the years. But it is time for us to have another woman win. I think that having another woman win would maybe temper some of the negative buzz– there are some people that think that a woman can’t do it, and I hate to say that.

When I won there were only a little more than 200 people playing. But now it doesn’t matter whether you’re a woman, a man or whatever, it doesn’t matter - you must be good, and you also have to be lucky. It must be a lucky three days for you to win the NHC.

You’ve qualified for 17 National Horseplayers Championships (NHC) – what makes you continue to want to qualify year after year?

I love the challenge of qualifying – but to be honest to you, though I didn’t qualify, I went, and I had a great time. I played in the last chance hoping I would qualify, but I was staying regardless if I qualified or not. I feel like it is the annual convention of your favorite organization, whether it's professional or social. You get together with people that you have a lot in common with and I have a really good time when I go. I just want to be there.

Female horseplayers are in the minority- what would you say to people who accuse women of not making their own selections in handicapping contests?

It is very real and I don’t know how you could even convey something like is – but to be honest with you, I have gotten great pleasure that I feel I have an angel on my shoulder. Bryan will be gone six years in July, and at times I’ve had to step back because I’ve had other responsibilities. But I have continued to enjoy success since he passed away. I hope that this has quelled some of the rumors about him playing for me. Just last year, I was at NHC, and someone came up to me and said “I’m sorry it took Bryan passing away for some players to see that you weren’t a beard.” And that’s truly the way it is for some people.

There are some excellent women handicappers – Amy Brantley is one, Cheryl McIntyre is another, among many - that could easily make a run for it.

What would you say to young women who are interested in handicapping but are intimidated by the male dominated field?

I would say absolutely go for it. But I think if someone asked me that on a one-to-one basis, I would say believe in yourself like you do in any other aspect of life. You can never be ashamed for finishing with a 0 in a contest. You have to believe in yourself. If you aren’t taking chances in contests you aren’t setting yourself up to be in a strong position to win.

How can we as an industry engage more women and make them feel included in all aspects of the sport?

I think this is going to take a team effort. Back in 2001, 2002, 2003 – back in that era when racetracks were doing all on-track contests. Tracks used to hold seminars (Del Mar, Emerald Downs) that would focus on women – and I loved that. I support anything we can do to be more inclusive with women.

Our sport should highlight women in all aspects - from horseplayers, owners, regulators, industry workers, to executives. We are seeing more women as on-air analysis too. I think all the women that are in racing and love racing need to get together. Julie Krone was the first female jockey, Jena Antonucci the first female trainer to win a Triple Crown race, look at Shannon Arvin and what she is doing at Keeneland - no matter their role in racing, we all need to band together.

I’m so glad Bryan was persistent and said he wouldn’t play in contests unless I did, because so many doors have been opened from his encouragement. All this started at my first contest being in the right place at the right time, and I still continue to love it.