gistfile1.txt

				// get total entries count
        $contestant_id  = 1;
				$tablename                   = $wpdb->prefix . 'rafflepress_entries';
				$sql                         = "SELECT count(id) FROM $tablename WHERE contestant_id = %d AND deleted_at IS NULL";
				$safe_sql                    = $wpdb->prepare( $sql, $contestant['id'] );
				$total_entries               = $wpdb->get_var( $safe_sql );
				$contestant['total_entries'] = $total_entries;