Del Mar will offer 50-cent pick four

Del Mar has received approval from the California Horse Racing Board to reduce the minimum bet for its pick four from a dollar to 50 cents at its upcoming summer meeting from July 21 to Sept. 8.

There will be one pick four per day, on the final four races, and the reduced minimum cost could drive handle by allowing bettors to select more combinations for more affordable sums.

Track president Craig Fravel said a similar move at Keeneland resulted in higher handle.

"We are optimistic that we will see a handle increase on the pick four," Fravel said in an e-mail. "