Meadowlands: Pick 6 carryover on tap Friday
It’s been a long time since Meadowlands’ fans have been able to utter the following fabulous phrase: “Pick-6 carryover!”
The carryover of $14,376 might not seem extremely impressive by itself, but what figures to transpire as a result will raise eyebrows from players, regardless of the girth of their bankrolls.
First and foremost, the Big M, in partnership with the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering initiative, has created an instant guaranteed pool of $40,000, which could look small by the time the fourth race on Friday heads to the gate, marking the start of the wager.
The bet has a base of 20 cents, which allows players to “spread’ their action further in pursuit of winners with double-digit odds. As always, the P6 has a low 15 percent takeout. What players may not realize is the value in a bet like this with a carryover.
“After a long layoff, we are excited to see a Pick-6 carryover at the Meadowlands,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “The 20-cent minimum has given life to the Pick-6. In 2012, when the Pick-6 had a higher minimum, our Opening Night carryover was $1,975, and it took us four nights to get that number past the $8,000 mark.
“Without the help of a carryover, the 20-cent version has an average pool this year of over $20,000 a night with 20-cent payoffs that have been excellent. With plenty of time between cards for handicappers all over the world to get ready to put money into this big pool, we obviously are expecting an enormous response to the one-day carryover of $14,376 on Friday.”
The mathematics prove that wagers with low 15 percent takeouts that have carryovers provide huge value for the player. In fact, there will be more money paid out than the amount of “new money” wagered Friday.
In the event Friday sees $80,000 in “new money”, the breakdown would be as follows:
> 15 percent of the $80,000 is removed for the takeout, leaving $68,000.
> Add the carryover of $14,376 to the $68,000, and you get a total of $82,376 left for the players with live tickets to divvy up, with 75 percent going to those who go six-for-six and 25 percent to those who have five winners.
> With $2,376 more going out after $80,000 comes in, that creates a rare “player’s advantage” of 2.97 percent.
> In the event no one picks all six winners, 75 percent – just over $60,000 – would carry over to Saturday’s card.
Free program pages for the 20-cent Pick-6 (which begins in the fourth race), as well as the 50-cent Pick-4 (race six) and Late 20-cent Jackpot Super High-Five (13th race) will be available on DRF.com.
-edited release (Meadowlands)