by Michael Antoniades, Balmoral Park racing analyst

Crete, IL — Balmoral Park will once again offer two guaranteed pools this Wednesday (Dec. 26).

A robust one day Pick-5 carryover of $10,534 will kick off the action. The popular 50 cent Pick-5 wager is offered on races two through six. The USTA and Balmoral Park have created a $50,000 instant guaranteed pool on the Wednesday Pick-5. Post time for the second race is 7:30 p.m. (CST).

Wednesday will be the seventh Pick-5 carryover since Oct. 21. In that timespan Balmoral has generated 21 Pick-5 payouts. Fifteen of those 21 paid more than $1,000 for 50 cents. Six out of 21 paid more than $5,000 for 50 cents. The previous six carryovers in the Pick-5 generated $395,826 in new money, an average of $65,971 per night. The average 50 cent payout in 2012 is $2,521.26.

Balmoral will also offer a $20,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool on Wednesday. The Pick-4 has a $1 minimum. The Pick-4 pools in 2012 are averaging more than $31,000. Balmoral offers a guaranteed Pick-4 wager every night with free program pages and a 15 percent takeout. The Wednesday Pick-4 starts on race seven, immediately after the conclusion of the Pick-5 wager.

Handicappers across North America can get a head start on their competition with free 12 line program pages for the guaranteed pools immediately courtesy of the USTA and TrackMaster on the handicapping section at www.ustrotting.com.