William Shurman
Home: Danville, Calif.
Age: 46
Occupation: Commercial real estate management
Road to the Finals: Finished second and won $8,000 in the Aqueduct Handicapping Challenge on Nov. 13-14.
Bio: Qualified for the National Handicapping Championship for the second straight year with his runner-up finish in NYRA's Aqueduct Handicapping Challenge. Finished in 149th-place at NHC V after qualifying last year at Turf Paradise. William has been handicapping for nearly 35 years since visiting the old Roosevelt Harness Raceway in Long Island, N.Y. in the early 1970s. Also plays the pick 6 in addition to tournaments, and remembers once cashing a pick 6 for a $8,000 payoff. William's brother, Paul Shurman, has also qualified for NHC VI (Autotote), and will be playing in his third straight national finals.
Photo: Turf Paradise