Philly Park sends three to Las Vegas

Dana Nelson of Langhorne, Pa., turned a $200 live bankroll into $1,852 to claim first prize of $5,000 and a trip to Las Vegas for the 2008 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship in a qualifying tournament Oct. 7 at Philadelphia Park.

The two other qualifiers to join Nelson at the Red Rock Casino, Resort, and Spa on Jan. 25-26 are Roger Siple of York, Pa., and John Sacca of Del Ran, N.J.

Siple, who finished with a bankroll of $1,700, also collected second prize money of $4,000. He finished 34th in the 2005 National Handicapping Championship, representing Delaware Park.

Sacca's third-place bankroll of $1,621 was worth $3,000 in prize money.

Donald Linker of Cherry Hill, N.J. collected $1,500 for fourth place and Jerry McClenin of Staten Island, N.Y., took home $1,000 for finishing fifth.

Contestants paid a $100 entry fee and purchased a $200 betting voucher. They were required to make at least 20 win/place bets on live races from Philadelphia Park, Delaware Park, Keeneland, Calder, and Belmont Park.