by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — Christmas will come early for horseplayers on Friday evening (Dec. 23) at Woodbine Racetrack in the form of a mandatory payout on the Jackpot Hi-5.

The Jackpot Hi-5, which requires horseplayers to select the top five finishers in order, has a carryover of C$548,396.96 heading into Friday’s mandatory payout.

The current Jackpot Hi-5 carryover has been growing since early October at Mohawk Racetrack.

Horseplayers will have to get creative with their Hi-5 tickets, as the Race Office has put together a field of 12 overnight pacers for the mandatory event.

The last mandatory payout offered on the WEG Standardbred Jackpot Hi-5 was on June 18 at Mohawk. On that evening, more than C$1.2 million of new money was wagered into the Hi-5 pool, bringing the total pool to C$1,694,983. The 20-cent Jackpot Hi-5 payout on June 18 was C$1,307.60.

Mandatory payouts on the WEG Standardbred Jackpot Hi-5 have generated total pools of more than C$2 million on multiple occasions.

A mandatory payout on Oct. 24, 2015 at Woodbine generated a total pool of more than C$2.2 million, with C$1.6 million of new money wagered into the Hi-5 that evening. The 20-cent payout was C$12,746.60.

On Aug. 30, 2014 at Mohawk, the Jackpot Hi-5 total pool was C$2.5 million, while a mandatory payout on May 17, 2014 at Woodbine had a total pool of C$2 million.

A C$2 million total pool is a strong possibility on Friday’s Jackpot Hi-5.

The Jackpot Hi-5 has a 20-cent minimum and a low takeout of 15 percent.

The mandatory payout on the “Hi-5” is race 12 on Friday’s card. Post time is 7:30 p.m.

A free program for Friday’s card can be downloaded by clicking here.