Dennis Tiernan
Home: Grand Prairie, Tex.
Age: 37
Occupation: Professional horseplayer
Road to the Finals: Finished first in the Youbet contest on Oct. 23.
Bio: Tiernan joined a small and select group of players who has qualified for four National Handicapping Championships, and has now done so at four different venues. Recorded his best finish at NHC V with a 28th place showing as a member of the team from Lone Star Park. Also finished 185 at NHC IV after qualifying with a victory at Retama Park that netted him a $6,000 first prize. Qualified for the inaugural NHC at Louisiana Downs and went on to finish 35th at the finals of NHC I at the MGM Grand. A native of San Francisco, Tiernan has been handicapping since he was 16 when his father was a mutuel clerk in Northern California. He once hit a $7,000 trifecta in a turf race at Lone Star and cashed out in the race for $30,000. Another of his favorite handicapping stories was the time he had the only winning pick 6 ticket ($11,000) during the Quarter Horse meet at Bay Meadows just a month after hitting another pick 6 for $5,400. In addition to Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, he also successfully handicaps Arabian and mule races. He jokes, "I've been known to take down some nice scores on the Arabian and Mule races in California. I've been called the best ass picker in the land!" In addition to racing, he also enjoys traveling and hopes to visit every track, baseball stadium, and football stadium in the country.
Photo: Harold Roth/Horsephotos