Balmoral Park

Contact: Tom Kelley
(708) 672-1414

BALMORAL PICK 4 WITH 15% TAKEOUT A SUCCESS

By Michael Antoniades

On the heels of a very successful Southland Festival of Racing, Balmoral Park recently released figures that show the popularity of its Pick 4 wager continues to grow. The Pick 4 takeout was reduced 40 percent for the 2010 season. The industry-low takeout of 15 percent, which was instituted in 2010, has made a big difference.

When racing began in 2010, the January Pick 4 pools averaged $7,698. As word spread that Balmoral had reduced the takeout, bettors throughout the country responded.  In February the average pool size rose to $10,277. Just two months later, the April Pick 4 pool averaging over $11,000 a night. Three months later, the results are pretty compelling.

The July Pick 4 pools at Balmoral totaled $212,641 for the 13 nights of live racing, averaging $16,357 per card. In 2009 with the higher takeout, pick 4 pools averaged $8,888. The average 2010 July Pick 4 pools were 84 percent higher with the lower takeout than the July 2009 pools.

The average 2010 race in the Pick 4 sequence handled $92,410 in July, a sizable increase over 2009.

Because of the favorable change for the player, every winning Pick 4 wager now receives 13.3 percent more than in 2009. The Pick 4 is contested on races 7 thru 10 nightly. The minimum wager is $1.

Remember on August 14 as part of the Back To The Track promotion going on throughout North America, there will be a $50,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 pool with a 15 percent takeout -- Balmoral Park will be a part of that Pick 4 sequence.

Old payout	New Payout	Added winnings
$100	$113	$13
$200	$226	$26
$400	$453	$53
$600	$680	$80
$800	$906	$106
$1,000	$1,133	$133
$2,500	$2,833	$333
$5,000	$5,666	$666
$10,000	$11,333	$1,333
$15,000	$17,000	$2,000
$20,000	$22,666	$2,666

The 10-cent Super High Five had a record payoff of $15,080.68 on Saturday, July 31. This is the only 10-cent High 5 wager available in racing.