Pick fours tied to television

There will be six tied into ABC and ESPN racing telecasts in 2006, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Friday.

The first pick four, on April 15, includes the Blue Grass from Keeneland and the Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park. The first race in the series will be the $100,000 Instant Racing Breeders' Cup from Oaklawn. The Commonwealth Breeders' Cup from Keeneland will be the second leg, followed by the Blue Grass and the Arkansas Derby.

There is a $1 minimum on the wager. The Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby are to be televised live on ABC.

The Stephen Foster from Churchill Downs will anchor the second pick four, on Sept. 17. The Arlington Million is the lead race on Aug. 12, the Oak Leaf Stakes from Santa Anita tops the bet on Sept. 30, the Jockey Club Gold Cup from Belmont Park is the anchor on Oct. 7, and the final national pick four on Oct. 14 is headed by the Queen Elizabeth II from Keeneland.

There will be a guaranteed pool of $400,000 on all of the pick fours except on April 15.