Richard Prozanski
Home: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Age: 57
Occupation: Professional gambler
Road to the Finals: Won Fairplex's Road to the Handicapper of the Year qualifying tournament at Fairplex on Sept. 18-19.
Bio: Qualified for the National Handicapping Championship for the second year in a row. Finished 134th at NHC V in Jan. 2004 after qualifying for the finals with a win in the 2003 Reno Hilton September Shootout where he collected a first prize of $35,000. Chicago area native has enjoyed horse racing for 40 years and calls playing the races a family tradition. Once hit a pick 6 for a $100,000 payoff. He is now a professional gambler, but says that nobody in his family shares his passion for the ponies because they really just don't understand his love for the game.
Photo: Reno Hilton