Six spots in handicapping finals up for grabs

Saturday at Lone Star Park, a group of 150 horseplayers will be competing for six spots in the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas in January.

The handicappers earned a seat in the local qualifier for their performances in three handicapping contests held earlier this year at Lone Star. The first, on Feb. 7, was won by Les Harris. David Brown won the second on April 4 and Steve Hanna took the third on July 25.

From each of the three tournaments, the top 50 players advanced to Saturday's qualifier.

The winner of the Lone Star championship will earn $1,500, while the second- through sixth-place finishers will each take home $500. In addition, all six will win an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas to compete in the NHC at the Red Rock Casino on Jan. 29-30.

* A golf tournament benefiting the Lone Star chaplaincy will be held at Mansfield National Golf Club on Nov. 2.