Breeders’ Cup Pick Six Probed

An investigation into the Breeders’ Cup pick six has been launched by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board in response to requests by both the National Thoroughbred Racing Assn. and the Breeders’ Cup.

On a day spiced by the upset victories of Domedriver, paying $54 in the Mile; Starine, $28.40 in the Filly and Mare Turf, and Volponi, $89 in the Classic, there were half a dozen perfect pick six tickets, worth $428,392 each -- all bought by one bettor, making telephone bets through an off-track account wagering service in upstate New York, according to the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.

If this weren’t unusual enough, all of the tickets, reportedly bought by a 29-year-old Maryland resident, were exactly the same.

According to information provided by the NTRA, each of the tickets singled the first four winners -- Domedriver, Orientate, who paid $7.40 in winning the Sprint; Starine and Vindication, who returned $10.20 in taking the Juvenile -- then used every horse in both the Turf and the Classic. The Turf, which had a field of eight, was won by favored High Chaparral and the Classic, which had a dozen runners, was won by the longest shot in the field, Volponi.

For a $2 bet, each ticket cost $192, and factoring in pick six consolation tickets for five winners, totaling 108 at $4,606 apiece, the total return, before taxes, would be in excess of $3 million.

Pending the outcome of the investigation, the Breeders’ Cup and Arlington Park, which was host of the event for the first time this year, have withheld payment to the Catskill Region OTB.

There are said to be concerns the tickets weren’t put in until after the Juvenile, the fourth of the six races, was completed. If so, that would explain why all the horses in both the Turf and Classic were used, thus guaranteeing the tickets would be winners.

However, both Donald Groth, the chairman of Catskill OTB, and Brooks Pierce, the president of Autotote (the tote provider for Catskill OTB and Arlington Park), were both quoted as saying the bets were placed before the pick six began.

“From a system perspective, we’re 100% certain that the pools were closed and that this gentleman made his bets 20 minutes before [the first leg of the pick six],” Pierce told the Daily Racing Form.

After first being contacted on Sunday, the New York State Racing and Wagering Board began its investigation.

“We’re going to look at everything there is to look at,” said Stacy Clifford of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board. “It’s an unusual circumstance that you’d want to look at no matter where it happened.

“It could be a case of somebody just getting very lucky. The investigation is ongoing.”

If it turns out any criminal activity -- specifically, fraud -- was involved, the matter will be turned over to law enforcement.

A formal letter sent to the New York State Racing and Wagering Board was co-signed by Tim Smith, the commissioner of the NTRA, and D.G. Van Clief, the president of the Breeders’ Cup.

“Our obligation in this case clearly is to protect the customer and the integrity of the process,” said Van Clief in a prepared statement. “We are simply asking for a complete and rapid investigation by the proper authorities to determine the facts and to maintain confidence in all aspects of our competition.”

Since the pick six tickets with six winners have not been paid, the payoff to those who had five winners on Saturday would be readjusted if irregularities were discovered.

Because the payoff was greater than 300-1 on a minimum $2 bet, all those who cashed consolation tickets had to fill out Internal Revenue Service forms, so there is documentation. The total pick six pool was $4,569,515.