Yonkers: Big Pick Five guarantee coming October 10

The Standardbred Owners Association of New York will contribute $25,000 to the 50-cent Pick-5 pool on International Trot Day (Saturday, Oct. 10) at Yonkers Raceway.

With this added money, the Saturday Pick-5 will be starting with a $25,000 carryover. Based upon that seeding of the pool, Yonkers Raceway and the SOA in conjunction with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program have guaranteed the 50-cent Pick-5 pool at $75,000.

“We felt it was very important to do something very special on this great day of international racing that rewards our betting fans,” said SOA of NY President Joe Faraldo. “There are some great events already planned for the participants in the International Trot, and some very nice promotions for those in attendance at Yonkers Raceway thanks to the generosity of Tim Rooney. The SOA Board of Directors felt that the bettors both on track and throughout the simulcast network should participate in a wager that will provide unprecedented real value to much appreciated fans.”

With such a large sum contributed to the pool in advance, it is likely that bettors will be wagering into a pool with a positive expectation -- where more money will be paid out than is wagered, a true rarity in gambling.

The Pick-5 is a 50-cent base wager and will cover races two through six on Oct. 10 at Yonkers Raceway. The International Trot Day card is a special afternoon program at Yonkers Raceway with a 2 p.m. first post. The second race and start of the $75,000 guaranteed Pick-5 with a $25,000 carryover will have an approximate post time of 2:20 p.m. The International Trot will be the middle leg of the sequence, race four, and have an approximate post time of 3:10 p.m.

The $1 million International Trot returns to Yonkers Raceway after a 20 year absence and features 2013 Horse of the Year and Yonkers Raceway track record holder Bee A Magician taking on many of Europe’s top trotters. Trotters from the United States, Canada, France, Sweden, Norway and Italy will compete in this year’s International Trot.