by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Columbus, OH — Northfield Park, in partnership with the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering program, begins offering guaranteed $15,000 Pick-4 pools tonight (Feb. 1). The guarantee is a 50-percent increase over the previous level of $10,000.

The Pick-4 is races eight through 11. The first leg is scheduled for approximately 9:20 p.m. (EST).

Northfield’s Pick-4, Pick-5 and the Pick-3s offer a reduced takeout rate of just 14 percent.

“As part of the USTA’s Strategic Wagering program, our Pick-4 pools on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights in recent months have easily sailed past the $10,000 guarantee,” said Dave Bianconi, Northfield Park’s executive vice president of racing and simulcasting. “We decided to raise the bar to $15,000 in February in hopes of seeing even larger pools and payoffs.”

Program pages for all Strategic Wagering opportunities are available at the USTA’s handicapping page.