NYRA to launch traditional Pick 6 featuring $1 minimum at Belmont spring/summer meet

by Keith McCalmont

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced a return to the traditional Pick 6 wager, featuring a $1 bet minimum, at the upcoming 48-day Belmont Park spring/summer meet.

The Pick 6 will launch on Thursday, April 22, Opening Day of the lucrative Belmont spring/summer meet which will feature 59 stakes races worth $16.95 million in total purse money.

The implementation of a retail-only $1 Pick 6 is part of a pilot program in response to horseplayer interest in wagers that reward the daily player with the opportunity for impressive payouts.

"Our community of horseplayers have expressed interest in a traditional Pick 6 wager that will provide a challenging sequence and significant payouts,” said Joe Longo, NYRA General Manager of Content Services. “By raising the bet's base minimum to $1, the Pick 6 remains an accessible multi-race wager for players of varying bankrolls while maintaining the possibility for a lucrative carryover day."

Featuring a $1 bet minimum and 15 percent takeout, the Pick 6 wager requires bettors to select the first-place finisher of six designated races on the card. A total of 75 percent of the full pool, minus takeout, will be distributed to bettors who select the first-place finisher of all six races. A consolation payout of 25 percent of the net pool will be distributed to tickets selecting 5-of-6 winners. In the event there are no tickets with six winners, there will be a carryover of 75 percent of the net pool into the next day of the meet with the remaining 25 percent of the net pool distributed as a consolation payout to tickets selecting the first-place finisher in the greatest number of races on the card. On carryover days, the Pick 6 is offered with a 24 percent takeout.

The Pick 6 replaces the Empire 6, a jackpot style wager featuring a $0.20 bet minimum first offered in August 2019 at Saratoga Race Course.

For more information, please visit www.NYRA.com.