Harrah's Philadelphia: New wagering menu, lower takeout rates in 2021

Horseplayers will be greeted by a refreshed, bettor-friendly wagering menu when Harrah's Philadelphia opens its 2021 season on April 2.

The new menu features two Pick-4 wagers on each card, retaining the 50-cent base wager and low 15% takeout from seasons past. On a typical 14-race program, the Pick-4s will begin in races one and 10; on shorter programs, the Pick-4s will comprise the first four and last four races. A new Pick-5 wager will be introduced, covering races five through nine on each program and featuring a 50-cent base wager and an 18% takeout.

The daily 20-cent Jackpot Hi-5 has been removed from the menu in favor of three non-jackpot Super Hi-5 wagers on each card, to be offered in the third, ninth, and final races with a 50-cent base wager and a 15% takeout. In a unique twist, Super Hi-5 pools will carry over in their entirety in the event of no winning tickets, as will superfecta (offered in all races without a Hi-5), Pick-3, Pick-4 and Pick-5 pools.

"We're excited to offer players a more friendly wagering menu," said Barry Brown, director of racing operations at Harrah's Philadelphia. "In this day and age, carryovers have become a focus among players, and our new menu creates the opportunity for those carryovers to build."

Additionally, the takeout rates on trifecta and superfecta wagers have been reduced from 30% and 32%, respectively, to 26%, increasing the ability for players to find value in those pools, as well.

"We wanted to get our trifecta and superfecta takeouts in line with other jurisdictions and some of the other Pennsylvania racetracks," Brown continued.

In terms of handicapping resources, the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association is providing past performance pages all season long by way of its website. For the novice and seasoned player alike, the popular The Players' Guide tip sheet returns for its fifth season, published both in the on-track program and at the-players-guide.com.

As in recent seasons, racing will take place at Harrah's Philadelphia primarily on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons at 12:25 p.m., and Sunday afternoons at 12:40 p.m. The 150-day meeting will run through Dec. 26.

-edited release (Harrah's Philadelphia)