Monday, January 30, 2012

GOLDEN GATE FIELDS WINNER PROPELLED LOUISIANA MAN TO VICTORY IN NATIONAL HANDICAPPING CHAMPIONSHIP

The nose win by the 4-year-old filly Glorious Dancer in the ninth and final race at Golden Gate Fields Saturday propelled Michael Beychok of Baton Rouge, La., to victory in the 2012 Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas.

Beychok, 48, amassed a winning score of $238.60 from 30 mythical $2 win and place bets over the two-day tournament held at the Treasure Island Las Vegas. Beychok never led until he scored with Glorious Dancer ($8.20 to win, $3.80 to place) in the contest’s final race, the ninth at Golden Gate Fields.


Glorious Dancer’s victory enabled Beychok to edge Dave Flanzbaum of Rolling Meadows, Ill., by one dollar. Flanzbaum, who led for much of the second half of Day 2, finished the tournament with $237.60.

Beychok topped a field of 480 horseplayers to earn the $1 million first prize and an Eclipse Award as Handicapper of the Year. Flanzbaum earned $150,000 for his second-place finish.

Beychok is a political consultant who made his first trip to the racetrack many years ago with well-known political pundit James Carville.

The Bay Area had a top five finisher in the tournament as Donna Labriola of Richmond took the fifth spot with $196.00, a total that earned her $37,000 in prize money.

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