by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park
Crete, IL — After two weeks of racing in 2012, Balmoral Park handle numbers have soared. The combination of full ten horse fields, guaranteed pools, low takeout, good weather and big payouts have made the pools much larger in 2012.
Through January 14, the 6 cards of 2012 have handled $6,255,768 for an average of $1,042,628 per program, compared to $4,879,305/$813,217 for the first 6 cards of 2011.
Multi-race players can double their pleasure on Sunday night at Balmoral Park with two guaranteed pools. The Pick-5 has a carryover of $4,641. The minimum bet is $0.50 cents and will encompass races two thru six. The Pick 5 has a guaranteed pol of $10,000 and an estimated pool of $20,000 because of the rollover. The start of the Pick-5 is scheduled for approximately, 7:30 p.m., central.
The Pick-4 will be conducted on races 7 thru 10. Through the first six nights of racing, Players have wagered $153,395 on the six guaranteed Pick four pools for a nightly average of $25,565. The Balmoral Pick-4 has a $1 minimum and carries a low takeout of 15 percent. The Sunday Pick Four has a guaranteed pool of $25,000.
Balmoral Park offers a guaranteed Pick 4 every night and free program pages are available on every racing night, courtesy of the U.S. Trotting Association and TrackMaster. Free 12-race program pages are now available at http://handicapping.ustrotting.com. Balmoral Park races Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday with a first post of 7:10 central.
The guaranteed Pick-4 pools continue to produce at record levels. In 2011, players wagered $3,574,945 on 151 pick 4 pools. The nightly 2011 average was $23,675 and the average $1 payoff on the guaranteed pick 4 pools in 2011 was $2,367.49 for a dollar. The old payoff at a takeout of 25% would have been $2,088.96, an additional $278.53 which now goes to the player with the low takeout of 15%.