Surfside sends winners to national tournament Jan. 29-30

DEL MAR, CA (January 26, 2010) — Surfside Race Place, one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious off-track-betting facilities, will send 15 contestants to Las Vegas, Nevada for the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) on January 29-30.

Four qualifying tournaments were held at Surfside Race Place at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in 2009. Contestants traveled from all over the nation to Del Mar to test their handicapping skills in these popular two-day tournaments.

The (NHC) is a year-end tournament with the winner earning $500,000 and the title of Handicapper of the Year, including recognition at the Eclipse Awards the following year. Contestants must qualify (there are no "buy-ins") at one of over 100 qualifying tournaments conducted throughout the year at various venues across the country, one of which is Surfside Race Place.

Team Surfside’s members are Jeff Herbst, Geoff Baynes, Mark Everhart, Alan Hasher, Steve Pollack, Forrest Richman, Richard Burton, William Campbell, Brian Feingold, Mark McGuire, Craig Kaufman, Cara Yarusso, Dan Kaplan, Gregg Matties, Gordon Larson, Paul Shurman and Jamie Michelson.

Surfside Race Place is open Wednesday through Sunday for day and night racing, and is now offering $2 Fabulous Fridays during the Santa Anita Race meet. Sign up for your FREE Diamond Club Membership Card at Surfside Race Place, and every Friday now through April 18, general admission is $2; hot dogs are $2 and soda and beer is $2! As a Diamond Club member, you also receive 50% off admission every day and FREE parking. General admission is regularly $5.00.

Theatre seating in the Las Vegas-style race book is included with general admission on a first come, first served basis. The Saddle Club admission package is $10, and includes a program.

Surfside Race Place is located on the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., and offers off-track wagering from September through July (closed during the live Del Mar race meet). Surfside features live racing from tracks across the country. Surfside’s unique features include a smoke-free environment, the luxurious Saddle Club, and patios with video monitors where Del Mar’s outstanding weather can be enjoyed. The immaculate 90,000- square-foot facility is designed to provide the ultimate satellite wagering enjoyment. For more information, visit www.surfsideraceplace.com or call 858-755-1167.