By admin 
The King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge is set to return for the 1/ST BET Kentucky Downs meet, kicking off on Sunday, August 30.
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The King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge at Kentucky Downs has become one of the country’s most popular live-money tournaments, and will consist of three online handicapping contests taking place through Xpressbet, TVG/4NJBETS, TwinSpires, and HPI (for Saturday, Sept. 5 contest) only. A $400 buy-in contest ($200 entry fee, $200 bankroll) will be held on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, followed by a $300 buy-in contest ($150 entry fee, $150 bankroll) on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, and a $2,500 buy-in contest ($1,000 entry fee, $1,500 bankroll) on Saturday, September 5, 2026. Each of the three individual contests will have an independent prize structure. The player who wins the Saturday, Sept. 5 contest will be named the King of the Turf: National Turf Handicapping Champion. Feeder competitions for the King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge are available at horsetourneys.com.
“With endless full fields and quality races, Kentucky Downs offers a handicapping puzzle perfectly suited for one of the country’s biggest contests,” said King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge Tournament Director Brian Skirka. “It’s a privilege to be back as tournament director, and I look forward to the best contest players in the country battling for the coveted Championship belt – along with all the other great prizes, of course! Our Sunday/Thursday feeders offer players a chance to win their King of the Turf entry for a discount, which is a great opportunity for all.”
Last year’s King of the Turf champion Matt Miller is back for more action in this year’s tournament, and determined to protect his title. The retired lawyer from the Chicago suburb of Northbrook said the King of the Turf is one of his high priorities when it comes to tournaments.
“It is absolutely one of the tournaments that I circle on the calendar at the beginning of the year,” Miller said. “I absolutely love Kentucky Downs: the full fields, the competitive racing provides for terrific prices, and the odds are often quite generous. I never back down from a challenge; I just adjust my approach. I usually go for one or two big hits, not trying to hit every race.”
One of said “big hits” for Miller took place on the final day of last year’s King of the Turf when he made a $1,500 win wager on Risk Manager, who went off at just under 7-1 and made a late-stretch rally to collar a pacesetting Gilded Craken in a $200,000 allowance optional claimer going 1 5/16 miles. The victory gave Miller a lead that ended up being uncatchable, as he finished the tournament with $27,625 cash prize, as well as a seat at the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge. Miller was a previous BCBC Champion in 2021.
“I had a target last year, and I hit it. I know that sounds basic, but that’s where it starts,” Miller noted. “Risk Manager was 6 to 1, and it was all a part of the strategy. I’ll enter a tournament knowing my opinions on that day. King of the Turf is one of my favorites, and these types of handicapping contests are a big deal. Coming up with the target and working backward from there is what I do, and the plan can change. If I’m forced to adapt my plan, I will.”
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After retiring as a corporate attorney in 2023, Miller wrote about his lifelong love of horseracing in his book A Bettor Way of Thinking. In this book, Miller compares the puzzle of analyzing a horse race to the overall journey of life, providing personal anecdotes and words of wisdom.
“It’s a lot of life and life lessons that apply to tournaments,” Miller said. “It’s about having a plan in life and looking ahead. If I apply it to gambling, you have a certain amount of money in your pocket. The question is what’s the plan with it? You have $1000. Will you be happy if you turn that into $1,500, or do you want to turn that into more? How do you know if you succeeded and when to stop? It made for an interesting concept.”
But perhaps Miller’s biggest motivation for a back-to-back King of the Turf title is securing another belt.
“It’s the best trophy we have in horseracing tournaments,” Miller said. “ If I win again, I will 100% bring the first belt with me to Vegas. I want to have one on each shoulder.”
For any questions and to register for the King of the Turf and play-in tournaments, email King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge Tournament Director Brian Skirka at [email protected].
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This story was originally published August 25, 2026 at 7:45 PM.