By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
Harness racing handicappers have a chance to make a little score on bookend carryovers during Wednesday night’s 10-race program at Batavia Downs Racetrack.
The Pick 5 pool has a guarantee of $17,500, meaning that even if wagering doesn’t reach that mark, payouts will still be based on that figure for handicappers selecting the winner of each race in the sequence (races one through five on the card).
The guarantee is a collaboration between track management and the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. The Pick 5 was not hit on Nov. 24 or 27, so the total unpaid pool of $5,375 from both nights carries over to Wednesday.
Since carryovers spark high interest for handicappers, the guarantee of $17,500 in the pool was set. If $12,125 of new money isn’t wagered Wednesday, Batavia Downs and the USTA will pay the difference into the Pick 5 pool that will be paid out on winning tickets.
Meanwhile, the Jackpot Super High 5 on the final race of the program has grown to $24,624, and it’s winner take all.
The Jackpot Super High 5 is only paid when there is one, unique winning ticket. If there is more than one ticket on the sequence, 60 percent of the night’s wagering on the Super High 5 is paid out as a consolation prize and the other 40 percent carries over to the jackpot.
The Super High 5 has a 20-cent base value (although any wager must total at least $1).
On Saturday, two handicappers correctly bet the winning combination of 5-1-7-9-8, and each collected $1,467.50. Had there been just one ticket, the payout would have been $24,624.
Free program pages can be found on the Batavia Downs website and Hot Picks selections can be found on the BataviaBets website.
There are just four racing cards remaining in the 2021 Batavia season, so if no one hits the Jackpot Super High 5 before closing nigh on Dec. 11, there will be a mandatory payout of the entire pool.
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