Steve Hendricks
Home: Carlsbad, Calif.
Age: 49
Occupation: Handicapper (former operations manager)
Road to the Finals: Finished third and won $240 in the Los Alamitos Regional Handicapping Contest on June 11.
Bio: Qualified for the National Handicapping Championship for the third time with his third-place finish at Los Al. Finished third and won $5,640 at the 2003 Turf Paradise Regional Handicapping Tournament en route to a 42nd place finish at NHC V. Also finished 37th at NHC III after qualifying with a $10,000 win in a contest at the Surfside Race Place at Del Mar in 2001. On the same day he won the Surfside Race Place contest, he and his wife Ellyn also hit the pick 6 at Hollywood Park. Was introduced to horse racing by his parents who used to take him to Monmouth Park before he moved to Los Angeles in 1984. Became a big fan of racing by going to Santa Anita and Hollywood Park, and has been handicapping for 20 years and doing it professionally for the last nine. One of his favorite racing moments was when he followed one of the favorite horses, Sunday Silence, to the Breeders' Cup at Gulfstream and watched him beat Easy Goer in 1989. His hobbied include travel, golf, and collecting sports memorabilia.
Photo: Coady Photos Az.