Del Mar increases amount of pick six pool for carryovers

The racing board approved a request from Del Mar to alter the portions of the pick six pool dedicated to payoffs, or for carryovers when there are no winning tickets, and the amount paid to consolation tickets.

Del Mar will offer 85 percent of net pools for payoffs or for carryovers, an increase from 70 percent at past meetings. The amount dedicated to consolation tickets will be reduced from 30 percent to 15 percent.

The changes go into effect with the start of the track’s summer meeting, on July 15.

Del Mar officials told the racing board they hope the changes will lead to greater interest in the $2 pick six at a time when bettors have migrated to pick four and pick five bets that have minimum units of 50 cents.

“We see this as an experiment, said Del Mar marketing director Craig Dado. “We believe this experiment will increase handle. If we’re wrong, we’ll admit it and try something else next year.”