Top 16 move into Turf-Vivor finals

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park's $132,000 Turf-Vivor Handicapping Contest has been narrowed down from 125 entrants to 16 finalists after two-days of action in the three-day DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship qualifying event.

In Sunday's final round, players will face each other in head-to-head tournament-bracket-style competition with the top seed facing the 16th seed and so on until the field is paired down to the elite eight, the final four, the top two, and then to the one ultimate "Turf-Vivor." The winner will take home a grand prize of $100,000.

Players attempted to build the highest bankroll on Friday and Saturday by betting on a total of 10 pre-selected Gulfstream races (five per day). The top 16 players advanced to play on Sunday and all earned prizes including $500 cash and a Caribbean cruise for two aboard Norwegian Cruise Line courtesy of Casinos at Sea.

The 16 finalists were, in order, Arthur Lindower, Myles Richards, Frank Evans, Jerry Barash, Lisa Kaufman, Allan Dobkowski, Edward De'Ath, Pat Heneghan, Sam Schlessinger, Mayer Kanter, Peter Wankmiller, James Nace, Ross Gallo, Steve Wolfson Jr., former national Handicapper of the Year Kent Meyer, and Mark Richards.

Players will face each other head-to-head based on seeding on Sunday. The top three players will earn NHC qualifying berths, but the majority of the $132,000 will go to the winner.