DRF's Matt Bernier to conduct Pleasanton seminars

The Daily Racing Form’s Matt Bernier admitted, “I never thought in a million years I’d be saying, ‘I’m going to Pleasanton this weekend.’ ”

But he is and will appear at this weekend’s handicapping seminars at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meeting. The free seminars are held at 11:30 a.m. daily in front of the paddock.

Bernier was one of the stars of the reality TV show “Horseplayers,” which followed a group of handicappers trying to qualify for the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. Bernier, now 24, was the youngest of the handicappers.

Bernier hoped to parlay his appearance on “Horseplayers” into a job in the racing industry and is now working for DRF as a player-development handicapper.

“I thought about training, but it’s tough to come from the outside and do that,” he said. “I want to stay in racing and thought about what got me there – handicapping. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are more things I can do like this. I love being in a live format.

“I try to go through major players and give the public ideas. I give out reasons for this horse, this horse, and this horse. I want people in the audience to ask, ‘Are you seeing something I didn’t see?’ and maybe take another look at the race.”