Santa Barbara Bet Nets Million at Golden Gate

A group of six bettors 300 miles away from Golden Gate Fields received a $1,074,405 Pick Six payoff, second largest in U.S. horse racing history, Wednesday for selecting the winners of races three through eight at the track.

The Pick Six winners placed their bets at the Santa Barbara satellite wagering facility, and their names were not announced.

The pari-mutuel department at Santa Barbara said only that six checks were made out to different individuals who each got $149,214.16.

There was a 20% withholding bite for the Internal Revenue Service before payment.

The group bet a total of $6,720 on various combinations, and its winnings included consolation payments for choosing five winners on 21 tickets and four winners on 240 tickets.

The only larger Pick Six payoff on record is the $1,145,219 won on Dec. 13, 1985, on action at the San Francisco Bay area’s other track, Bay Meadows. Frank Judson of Santa Rosa, Calif., was the winner.