Emerald Downs

Dave Crabill (center) earned $10,500 for winning the Emerald Downs Ultimate Qualifying Round on July 27. All 12 NHC V qualifiers (pictured) hail from Washington.

The winner of the contest was Dave Crabill of Milton, Wash., who defeated a field of 400 players, 90 of whom travelled from out-of-state, to win a grand prize of $10,500. Crabill tallied a contest-winning bankroll of $151.50 based on 10 mythical $2 win and place bets on Emerald Downs plus five additional simulcast races from Arlington, Calder, Del Mar, Hastings, and Saratoga.

"I read the [Handicapping Contest Handbook] Emerald Downs gave us and bet longshots. I can't believe I won," said Crabill.

The winner was not the only local player to take advantage of the contest's format that was heavily weighted toward the Emerald card. All 12 National Handicapping Championship qualifiers hailed from the state of Washington. Runner-up Claude Davey of Spokane finished $3.90 behind Crabill with a total of $147.60. Davey, in turn, was just $3.60 ahead of third-place finisher Michael McNeely of Bremerton, who finished with $144.

Emerald Downs is the first and only track to offer 12 NHC qualifying spots to the top finishers in a single contest. As a result, the free event had no trouble attracting a full field of 400 entrants who competed primarily for one of the expense-paid trips to Las Vegas for NHC V to be held on Jan. 23-24 at Bally's.

The 12-member Washington-based Emerald Downs contingent bound for Las Vegas also includes fourth- through 12th-place finishers Jim Acker of Milton ($142), Ralph ($141.60) and Nadine ($139.80) Buston of Auburn, Casey Dotson of Chehalis ($138), George Strausser of Everett ($133.60), Dave Breuninger of Bellevue ($133.10), Selena Youngman of Federal Way ($132.80), and Susan Minshull of Seattle ($131.10).

In addition to trips to Las Vegas, the second- through 12th-place finishers all will receive a prize of $100 in casino chips.