Handle on New MEC Wager Continues to Grow

The Magna 5, a pick five bet that links races from tracks owned by Magna Entertainment Corp., continued to pick up steam Feb. 21 with its highest handle in a four-week period.

Handle on the Magna 5, which linked five races from four tracks in roughly one hour, was $608,823. Handle on the three previous Saturdays was $571,628 Feb. 14, $505,033 Feb. 7, and $460,400 Jan. 31.

Currently, the tracks in the mix are Golden Gate Fields, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, and Santa Anita Park. Payoffs have ranged from a high of $13,928.40 for a $2 ticket (28 winning tickets) the first week to $5,323.20 (74 winning tickets) the second week.