by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

Sacramento, CA — Cal-Expo Raceway and the California Harness Horsemen’s Association have joined the USTA’s Strategic Wagering program.

The California raceway will offer a Thursday night Pick-4 with a $10,000 guarantee. The wager will be conducted on races six through nine. It will begin Thursday, April 14, and be offered for four weeks. Further, the takeout for the wager will be lowered to 15 percent.

The concept of USTA Strategic Wagering grew from an idea first offered by USTA director Chris Schick of California, and calls for pari-mutuel betting pools to be guaranteed, with the responsibility for the guarantee being shared equally between the USTA and the track hosting the wager.

The program began earlier this month, and participating tracks reported greatly increased wagering in the first week the program was offered. The USTA Strategic Wagering committee is working to add more wagers in 2011, including a national bet featuring races at multiple tracks throughout the country.

For the latest schedule of wagers in the program, visit the USTA’s handicapping page. On the handicapping page you can find a list of participating wagers, expert selections and links to free past performances, provided courtesy of TrackMaster.

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