The Breeders' Cup announced Oct. 19 that professional poker player Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi will play in the $10,000 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge at Santa Anita Park Nov. 2-3 during the World Championships.
"The BCBC is the mother of all horse racing betting events and its format similarly resembles the World Series of Poker Main Event," said Mizrachi, a Poker Pro and World Series of Poker Bracelet winner, said in a statement. "My betting style with horse racing is similar to poker--loose on the lead and always ready to press."
The Breeders Cup Betting Challenge's $10,000 entry fee is split between the live money bankroll ($7,500) and the overall prize pool ($2,500). The tournament winner must accumulate the highest live money bankroll over the two-day event, plus the winning share of the prize pool, which in 2011 represented over $270,000.
Breeders' Cup also announced its Celebrity Poker Invitational Oct. 30 at Commerce Casino added two World Series of Poker Bracelet winners--Mike "The Mouth" Matusow and Annie Duke. Hosted by Mizrachi, the Breeders' Cup Celebrity Poker Invitational will feature a mix of poker pros, trainers, jockeys, and horsemen competing to raise funds for California Retirement Management Account.
"I am honored to be hosting this second annual event raising money for retired Thoroughbreds," Mizrachi said. "I'm glad my fellow poker pros will be in attendance supporting the event and this great cause. It's going to be an exciting event and one tough tournament."