New California Pick Three Policy to Begin

A new refund and consolation payoff policy for "Pick Three" wagers in California goes into effect May 24, the state horse racing board recently reported.

Tote company Scientific Games has been working on the issue since the CHRB approved the changes earlier this year.

According to John Reagan of the CHRB staff, the new rules are as follows.

1. Any scratch in the first leg of a Pick Three is now a refund.
2. A wager with a scratch in the second leg creates a consolation pool.
3. A wager with a scratch in the third leg creates another consolation pool.
4. A wager with scratches in the second and third leg creates another consolation pool.

A consolation pool is the sum of all wagers that include the scratch(es) for that leg or legs. The winning combination for the consolation pool is a wager with the winner or winners of the non-scratch leg(s).