Plenty of opportunities to cash in with Strategic Wagering Program

Friday, September 14, 2018 – by Mike Antoniades for the USTA Strategic Wagering Committee

Columbus, OH — As the harness racing stakes season turns for home, there is great excitement leading into many of the sports premiere events. On Saturday (Sept. 15) and Sunday (Sept. 16) there is a plethora of guaranteed pools offered by the Strategic Wagering arm of the United States Trotting Association (USTA) that is certain to create added interest in these events.

Guaranteed pools, big carryovers and great stakes action are certain to not only increase interest in these pools but will also increase interest in the events themselves.

Saturday (Sept. 15)
RUNNING ACES
All stakes $100,000 guaranteed Pick-5 pool (races eight through 12 )
Carryover $41,769
Mandatory payout
20 percent takeout
20-cent minimum
First post 6 p.m. Central
Minnesota Night of Champions

HAWTHORNE
$20,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool (races 10 through 13)
15 percent takeout
50-cent minimum
First post 7:10 p.m. Central
Night of Champions final leg of qualifying

Sunday (Sept. 16)
THE RED MILE
All stakes $10,000 guaranteed Pick-8 pool  (races three through 10)
20-cent minimum
Mandatory payout
15 percent takeout
$2 million in purses
The Pick-8 consists of eight $250,000 KYSS finals.
Also offering: All stakes $5,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool (races seven through 10)
Special first post 3 p.m. Eastern

DELAWARE
First day of five-day racing festival
$5,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool (races TBD)
15 percent takeout
First post 1 p.m. Eastern

HAWTHORNE
$30,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 pool (races six through nine)
15 percent takeout
50-cent minimum
First post 7:15 p.m. Central
Night of Champions final leg of qualifying

Strategic Wagering is proud to partner with these racetracks to offer higher guaranteed pools. We have not only seen The Meadowlands break the $100,000 plateau on a regular basis with their Pick-4 pools in 2018, we have seen Pompano Park, Hawthorne Race Course and Cal Expo each break through the
$50,000 barrier with their guaranteed Pick-4 pools with no carryover.

These guarantees, combined with low takeout, the new tax laws on withholding and free program pages courtesy of Track Master have resulted in these pools growing rapidly. The ultimate goal is to get the popularity of the event to grow rapidly in popularity with them.

We wish our friends at Woodbine Mohawk Park the best of luck this Saturday as they present a fabulous card with over $2 million in purses. They will offer two $50,000 guaranteed pools and the finals of the Canadian Trotting Classic, the William Wellwood Memorial, the Peaceful Way final and the Elegant Image final, featuring a rematch between the two top rated horses in the sport, Atlanta vs. Manchego.

As we move on to the Little Brown Jug, the Red Mile Grand Circuit, the Breeders Crown, the Final Four Series and the TVG Series, we hope to make our premiere events must see and must play events. Free program pages along with a schedule of Strategic Wagering events can be downloaded on the handicapping tab at www.ustrotting.com.