Milton, ON — The words ‘mandatory payout’ always spark the attention of horseplayers, which means all eyes will be on Saturday’s (March 30) 10th race at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Woodbine Standardbred Jackpot Hi-5 has a carryover of $525,140.23, which will be distributed through a mandatory payout on Saturday’s 10th race. The total pool, including carryover and new money, is expected to exceed $1.1 million.
An overflow field of 12 pacers, who are non-winners of C$11,000 last five starts or C$22,500 last 10 starts, will compete in the Jackpot Hi-5 race. The purse has been bumped up to C$30,000 and all starters will receive at least one per cent of the purse.
The most recent Jackpot Hi-5 mandatory payout was conducted on Dec. 22, 2018. Horseplayers wagered more than $619,026 of new money on the Hi-5, which had a carryover of $352,873.
Past mandatory payouts have topped more than $1 million in new money wagered and returned large payouts. A mandatory payout in December of 2016 saw more than $2 million in new money wagered, while in December of 2017 the payout was $49,437.10 for a 20-cent winning ticket.
The Jackpot Hi-5 requires horseplayers to select the top five finishers in order and features a 20-cent minimum wager with a 15 percent takeout. The wager is offered nightly on the final race of each card.
Outside of the Jackpot Hi-5, Saturday’s feature race is the $34,000 Preferred Pace (Race 9).
Ben Baillargeon trainee Traceur Hanover (post position one) is the 5-2 favorite and seeking a little revenge on Maroma Beach (post position three), who snapped his two-race win streak last Saturday. Maroma Beach, who is trained by Richard Moreau, is searching for his third consecutive victory and joins Cinnabar Dragon (PP5) and Brodys Scrapper (post position eight) as horses entering the contest off a win.
Post time for Saturday’s card is 7:10 p.m. To download a free program, click here.