LAUREL, Md., (Sept. 25, 2018) – The “Stronach 5,” a one dollar minimum wager which features an industry-low takeout of 12 percent, will debut this Friday beginning with Laurel Park’s ninth race, which has an assigned post time of 5:26 ET.  The Stronach 5, which will also coincide with Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet opening day, will be offered each Friday, through Nov. 2.  The inaugural Stronach 5 will also offer fans a guaranteed pool of $50,000.

With Leg Two shifting to Santa Anita, Leg Three to Gulfstream Park and Leg Four to Golden Gate Fields, the fifth and final leg this Friday will emanate from Gulfstream, with their ninth race scheduled to go at 6:08 ET.  The Stronach 5 is thus intended to be run within a 45 minute pari-mutuel window.

HERE’S THE TIMELINE FOR FRIDAY’S ONE DOLLAR STRONACH 5

• LEG ONE - Laurel Park Race 9 (9 horses entered) 5:26PM ET
• LEG TWO - Santa Anita Race 4 (11 horses entered) 5:32PM ET
• LEG THREE - Gulfstream Race 8 (11 horses entered) 5:38PM ET
• LEG FOUR - Golden Gate Race 4 (10 horses entered) 5:50PM ET
• LEG FIVE - Gulfstream Race 9 (11 horses entered) 6:08PM ET

The Maryland Jockey Club will serve as host of the Stronach 5 and will offer the multi-race bet as a separate wagering program.  Additionally, each participating track will be issuing 100 “Quick Pick” tickets and Stronach 5 past performances will be available on each track’s website no later than Thursday morning.   

Fans are advised that if a change in racing surface is made in any Stronach 5 race after wagering closes, each selection in that race, on any ticket, will be considered a winning selection.  If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

In the event there are no tickets with five winners, the entire Stronach 5 pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

XBTV TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE STRONACH 5 PREVIEW SHOW

A comprehensive Stronach 5 Preview Show will be available Thursday morning and on demand anytime on XBTV.com.  Hosted by Gulfstream’s Jason Blewitt, the show will feature racing analysts from all of the participating Stronach Group tracks, including Gulfstream’s Acacia Courtney, Santa Anita’s Michelle Yu and Megan Devine, Laurel Park’s Tim Tullock and Golden Gate Fields’ Matt Dinerman.

XBTV will also provide fans with an “All Star Ticket,” with best bets from racing experts.  This analysis will also be available on XBTV.com, and on all participating tracks’ social media platforms.

Additionally, a unique feature of the Stronach 5 wager will be that the five races will be shown live on all racetrack simulcast feeds. (For example, live racing from Gulfstream, Laurel and Golden Gate Fields, will be shown on Santa Anita’s feed within the one-hour time frame).

First post time for Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet opener this Friday is at 4 p.m. ET. For additional information, please contact the Maryland Jockey Club at www.marylandracing.com.