RE-POSTED

The 10 cent Pick-6 will be awarded to one unique ticket. On days there are multiple winners, 60 percent of the pool will be shared equally while 40 percent goes back into the jackpot.

That is the official description of the “Rainbow” pick six at Gulfstream Park.  The ten cent entry fee makes it possible for the small player to have a chance with multiple entries at a low price. But the big players get an advantage also. A $25 bet can fetch up to 3 horses a race in each of the six races and for about $470 you get 6 per race and for about $10K you can cover almost every combination (10 per race), and that would be almost a sure winning ticket!

Now here’s the catch – you have to have the ONLY winning ticket to get the total prize.  And that is the equalizer since the payout with multiple winners is only 60%, your payout with the carryover at say $800K could range from $240K to, let’s say, $1,000 depending on how many betters hit all six. But that would be an advantage to the big players again.  Even with 12 horses a race the cost goes up to $30K (to cover every possible combination) and if you have 14 high rollers doing that then nobody will win it all and the big money will break even.

Then when the 60% is removed, the lower payout to the wheeler dealers is too risky to spend the big bucks to cover every bet. And that may open it up to the small better again.  But as long as the carryover is astronomical the big spenders will be fighting it out for the 60%.

And look for this monster to come to a finale, if no loner wins it all, on the last day of the Gulfstream meet when it will become a “mandatory payout”.  That will bring people out of the woodwork and into the tracks and to the simulcasting sites across the country.

This lure of the huge payout is adding to the attendance numbers at many locations across the country.  It has been a boon to Gulfstream, simulcasting sites and to our wonderful sport.  Thank you Gulfstream Park for this little pot of gold at the end of your Rainbow Pick Six.