As lyrics from the ’64 Martha and the Vandellas hit song suggest, “Summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the street.” On second thought, if you’re of a certain age and can fondly recall shakin’ your booty to that tune’s original release, be careful while ‘dancing in the street.’ You’re liable to hurt yourself or even worse get hit by car. Instead, why don’t you spend upcoming summer afternoons watching and wagering on the races with Xpressbet. It’s safer. 

From now until Labor Day, there are at least two good reasons for you to visit Xpressbet on a regular basis. First, NYRA recently released its Late Pick 5 from captivity. The wager, offered on the afternoon’s last five races with a 50-cent minimum and an enticing 15% takeout, previously had been held hostage--available exclusively to NYRA Bets customers, New York on-track bettors, and those betting with a New York simulcasting facility. Other eager horseplayers need not apply. Obviously, that restriction has robbed NYRA of stacks since the wager was first launched at Saratoga in 2016. Finally, someone wisely unlocked the gates so handle from the pockets of grateful horseplayers nationwide could roar toward NYRA coffers like water freed from a dam. 

By the time you read this, Xpressbet account holders and others already will have ridden the rapids—the embargo was lifted for the first time on Wednesday, July 3. Have no fear, there’s still plenty of loot to chase this weekend. NYRA Late Pick 5 general availability comes just in time for Belmont’s big holiday weekend program—Saturday’s 2019 Stars & Stripes Racing Festival. That extravaganza includes five graded stakes races and the launch of the inaugural $5.25 million Turf Triple series, featuring the Turf Trinity and Turf Tiara for sophs over three legs at Belmont and Saratoga. (Man, that last sentence sure includes a gaggle of alliterative Ts.) 

The Turf Trinity begins with the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational on July 6 and is accompanied by the first leg of the filly Turf Tiara, the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational--both events will be contested at 10 furlongs and broadcast live nationwide on NBC. 

Also featured on the lucrative Stars & Stripes card is the Grade 2, $700,000 Suburban Handicap, the Grade 3, $250,000 Dwyer and the Grade 3, $300,000 John A. Nerud, a Breeders' Cup Win & You're In Event to the Breeders' Cup Sprint. 

The spring/summer meet continues at Belmont Park Sunday, July 7, before live racing shifts to historic Saratoga Race Course for the 2019 meet beginning on Thursday, July 11. 

Saratoga’s opening also is a perfect segue for the second reason Xpressbet is the best place to play this summer: Xpressbet’s $120,000 Fun in the Sun handicapping competition begins Saturday, July 13! 

You may recall that Fun in the Sun is the popular and profitable weekly online event that challenges players to earn money based on a live $10 win wager on one horse in each of 10 mandatory races. 

There’s $8,500 in weekly prizes
$5k to first 
$2k to second 
$1k to third 
$500 to fourth 
awarded each Saturday—July 13 through August 31--and opportunities for top cumulative earners to collect shares of $80,000 in total seasonal prizes. The top four cumulative finishers will earn entry into the Pegasus World Cup Betting Championship—a $12,000 value each! 

Once Del Mar opens on July 17, races from that track will join Saratoga events to form weekly Fun in the Sun mandatory lineups. That way players can be challenged by an entertaining weekly East/West-coast, Turf ‘n Surf combo. 

Fun in the Sun is for Xpressbet account holders only and there is no registration or entry fee to participate. Fun in the Sun is sponsored by Xpressbet, with no rake, skim or additional takeout. If you’re after ‘value,’ (and who isn’t?) Fun in the Sun has it in spades! And since competition wagers are ‘live,’ players keep what they win! Find the right horse a time or two and the weekly competition pays for itself. 

One reason players love Fun in the Sun is because of the two-pronged prize structure. There are weekly winners as well as additional opportunities to collect seasonal prizes. After all, who among us can be hot at the windows each and every summer Saturday? No one. That’s OK, though. With Fun in the Sun a player can have a sub-par Saturday or two…or three…and still have time to rally and score big. Weekly prizes are lucrative, while consistent, dedicated heroes collect real gold in the form of rich cumulative prizes: Pegasus World Cup Handicapping Championship entries. 

You know you’re going to play the races from Saratoga and Del Mar. While you’re at it why not play Fun in the Sun and compound your winnings all summer long? 

With two exciting ways to get involved with Xpressbet this summer, there’s no reason to delay. Unless, of course, you’re waiting for that Martha and the Vandellas vinyl to quit spinning on the Victrola. In that case, you’re forgiven. Just stay out of the street. 

Race On!