Turf racing, Rainbow 6 carryover on tap at Laurel Park
Grass racing at Laurel Park. Photo by The Racing Biz.
From a Maryland Jockey Club release
Live racing returns to Laurel Park Friday, April 13 with a Maryland state record jackpot carryover of $295,762.95 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6.
It is the largest jackpot carryover since the popular multi-race wager was introduced in Maryland on April 2, 2015, opening day of the spring meet at legendary Pimlico Race Course.
The Rainbow 6 has gone unsolved for 28 consecutive programs dating back to Feb. 4, when it was taken down for a $5,896.30 payoff.
The previous state record for the largest Pick 6 carryover was $275,322, reached heading into closing day of Pimlico Race Course’s spring meet on June 6, 2015. A mandatory payout that day produced multiple returns of $12,518.28.
In the Rainbow 6, the carryover jackpot is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 60 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 40 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
Friday’s Rainbow 6 covers Races 4-9 highlighted by a $35,000 entry-level allowance for Maryland-bred 3-year-olds and up going one mile in Race 7 and a $45,000 second-level optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up at 5 ½ furlongs in Race 8.
There will also be a carryover of $2,404.11 in the $1 Super Hi-5 for Friday’s opener. First race post time is 1:10 p.m.
And if the wager carries over to Saturday?
Not only will players have an opportunity to make a big score and play in a free handicapping contest presented by The Racing Biz, they’ll also get to play the first Maryland races of the year contested on turf.
Maryland is set to kick off its grass season with three of Saturday’s 10 live races scheduled to be run over Laurel’s world-class turf course.
Carded on the Kelso Turf Course layout are claiming events for 3-year-olds and up in Races 3 and 7, and a $40,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and up in Race 5 over the Fort Marcy Turf Course. All three races will be run at 1 1/16 miles. All three are part of the free handicapping contest.
The trio of turf races attracted a total of 31 entries, an average of 10.33 per race. Race 5 includes three homebred first-time starters – Stronach Stables’ Sandy Lane, Gunpowder Farms’ Helicat and Thomas Teal’s Best Way – as well as Jacks or Better Farm’s Kingston Pike, off the board in a pair of Florida Sire Stakes races on dirt last summer at Gulfstream Park.
