Charlotte Couris
Home: Gloucester, Mass.
Age: 56
Occupation: Semi-retired. Former assistant inn manager.
Road to the Finals: Won the Tampa Bay Downs Handicapping Contest, which concluded April 10.
Bio: Was introduced to horse racing by friends who own and race horses in New England, but considers herself a newcomer to handicapping. Played in the Tampa Bay tournament along with her friend Sid Weiner, an owner and veteran handicapping contest player who finished fourth in NHC III. When in New England, Couris frequently attends the races at Rockingham Park and Suffolk Downs and spends a lot of time at Saratoga. Her biggest score so far has been a trifecta that paid $700. "I love the horses," says Couris, who attended the 2004 Breeders' Cup at Lone Star. "I've followed racing for thirty years. But much more than gambling, I'm a true racing fan. I've only recently started handicapping."
Photo: Tampa Bay Downs