Churchill cuts out Over/Under bet

[Qbins Missile Crisis]

From C-J and AP Dispatches • May 22, 2008

Effective yesterday, Churchill Downs has dropped its Over/Under wager and the guaranteed pools for its late Pick 4.

The Over/Under, introduced last fall for on-track betting only, required patrons to bet whether the sum of the program numbers of the first three finishers will be over or under a certain predetermined number, or hit right on that number. The bet was by far the least wagered on the Churchill races, often attracting only a couple hundred dollars, with fans complaining that the payoffs were too miniscule or the bet just didn't interest them.

"While the Over/Under wager appealed to some casual fans and newcomers during our on-track-only market test, it didn't gain sufficient traction with core customers," Churchill Downs Inc. vice president Tom Aronson said. "As a result, we decided that it no longer merits a regular position on the Churchill Downs wagering menu."

The late Pick 4 still exists but without the guarantee of a $50,000 minimum pool on weekdays and $100,000 on weekends. The bet failed to meet its guarantee three of the previous six racing days, meaning the track had to make up the difference. The shortfalls were $7,454 on May 11, $31,047 on Preakness Day and $4,736 last Sunday.
Faith's Magic wins

Faith's Magic, a 15-1 shot, took the lead from A.P. Xcellent with a furlong to go and raced to a neck victory in yesterday's $44,575 allowance feature at Churchill.

The winner, a 4-year-old gelding ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, notched his third win in his past four starts, covering a mile on the turf in 1:36.25.

Dominican was another 1¼ lengths back in third.