Winner Crowned in First Breeders' Cup Video Game Tournament

Even though the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships doesn't get underway until Saturday, the games began Friday afternoon at Belmont Park with a Breeders' Cup video game tournament.

Twelve finalists from across the country came to Belmont to compete on twelve linked Breeders' Cup – Tournament Edition video machines for the championship title with a $100,000 prize pool, including a new Dodge Viper for the winner.

Graig Kinzler, of Palatine, Ill., claimed the winner's title and took home the Dodge Viper. Jesse Heredia, also of Palatine, placed second, while Joe Sabb III, of Arlington Texas, finished third.

The tournament was sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and UltraCade Technologies, the manufacturer of the video game machine, which allows players to build their own virtual racing stable and race their horses with those of other horse players nationally.

Hundreds of players competed for two weeks to earn one of the 10
qualification spots. Two "Super Saturday" tournament winners were
automatically qualified for the championship.