Arlington Tries to Hasten Pick-Six Payoffs

Arlington Park, the host of the Breeders’ Cup last Oct. 26, and its parent company, Churchill Downs Inc., filed a petition Tuesday with the U.S. District Court in New York, hoping to expedite payment to the rightful pick-six winners.

The petition asks that the court recognize Arlington Park’s claim to $3,076,956.61, the amount being held in an interest-bearing escrow account in Chicago, after it was found that some winning pick-six tickets had been altered. Three men, among them Chris Harn, an employee of Autotote, the company that processed the bets, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Harn admitted altering a ticket after four of the pick-six races had been completed.

The U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, which prosecuted the men, has requested forfeiture of the funds. If forfeiture were to proceed, the U.S. attorney’s office would then release the funds to Arlington Park.

Then, after authorization from the Illinois Horse Racing Board, the 78 tickets that legitimately had five winners on Breeders’ Cup day would be redeemed.

Those holding tickets with five winners are entitled to about $40,000 each.

By filing the petition, Arlington Park is trying to hasten the process. One National Thoroughbred Racing Assn. spokesperson said that if Arlington’s petition isn’t granted by the court, bettors might have to wait two months or more to receive their money while it goes through forfeiture.

“The petition being filed is a request for simple justice,” said Breeders’ Cup President D.G. Van Clief and Arlington Park President Steve Sexton in a prepared statement.