Week 2 of the 2024 Xpressbet Beat the Host free handicapping contest springs from the starting gate Saturday with Millie Ball in the saddle. The XBTV and Santa Anita handicapper will put her picks up against contestants over the final five races at Gulfstream Park and the first five at Santa Anita.

The 19th annual Xpressbet Beat the Host contest kicked off last week, and 466 players advanced to the Championship Round on March 9 by topping host Pete Aiello. The Gulfstream Park track announcer failed to connect on any of his 10 picks. Week 1’s top player, Norma Mendoza, earned the $1,000 prize with a parimutuel total of $257. Adam Haskins earned $750 in prize money for his $221 runner-up total, while Matthew Scholten’s $213 total was good for the $250 third prize. In all, 47 contestants scored $100 or more in their parimutuel totals, getting off to a strong start on the season leaderboard.

Overall, eight contest weeks challenge horseplayers to out-earn our hand-picked hosts in a series of 10 parimutuel win bets ($5 each) at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita. Those able to Beat the Host bankroll total at least once in any contest week will earn their way to the BTH Championship Round on March 9 and play for approximately $60,000 in weekly and seasonal prizes.

Here is the 2024 host run-down:

COMPLETE: Saturday, January 6 - Pete Aiello
THIS WEEK: Saturday, January 13 - Millie Ball
Saturday, January 20 - Tom Quigley
Saturday, January 27 - Jeff Siegel
Saturday, February 3 - Brian Nadeau
Saturday, February 10 - Frank Mirahmadi
Saturday, February 17 - Jeremy Plonk
Saturday, February 24 - Eddie Olczyk

Weekly cash prizes total $2000 each Saturday with Pegasus World Cup Betting Championship and 1/ST Ultimate Betting Challenge seats valued at $6,000 each among the season standings prizes. Lucrative tournament seats also are on the line in the Beat The Host Championship Round as well as a potential $6,500 Sweep the Host bonus shared among players who defeat the hosts’ totals in each of the 8 weeks.

Last season, Thomas Bassett was the lone player to take down all 8 hosts and earned the full $6,500 Sweep the Host prize. Bassett also won the season leaderboard bankroll chase at $571 accrued. Watch his reaction here.

Last year’s Beat the Host competition saw 664 horseplayers earn their way to the Championship Round, which was won by Andy Muhlada.

Registration is open for Saturday’s Xpressbet Beat the Host. To sign up free and get more information, visit the Tourneys Page.