by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

Columbus, OH — As the USTA Strategic Wagering program has increased in popularity among North America’s harness racing fans, so has the number of participating racetracks. In May, Harrington Raceway and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will offer Pick-4 wagers whose pools are guaranteed under the unique concept.

Harrington, located in Harrington, Del., will offer $5,000 Pick-4s on races three through six beginning on Tuesday, May 3, and on each Tuesday in May thereafter. Pocono Downs, which hosted the Breeders Crown on its five-eighths-mile track in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., last year, will also guarantee $5,000 Pick-4 pools on races six through nine on Wednesdays — May 4, 11 and 18.

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.

Full May schedule announced

The USTA Strategic Wagering schedule for May — a busy schedule, expanded to additional racetracks — has been posted online, on the U.S. Trotting Association’s handicapping page.

Over the 31 days of May there will be 55 opportunities for fans to wager into guaranteed Pick-4 pools at some of harness racing’s most popular racetracks. Those tracks include Balmoral Park, Cal-Expo Raceway, Harrington Raceway, Maywood Park, The Meadows, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Northfield Park and Yonkers Raceway.

Only three days in the coming month, May 13, 20, and 27, all of them Fridays, will be without guaranteed Pick-4s being offered. Those dates, however, may be filled if new tracks join the program.

Since the program began on April 1, every one of the wagers offered has met its guarantee — and fans have enjoyed wagering into the larger pools, as evidenced by increased pool totals.

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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