Traditional carryover happens when no winning tickets exist, carrying the pool to the next wager, usually applied to the later race if offered multiple times. Some tracks offer consolation payouts for near wins, like 3 of 4 correct in Pick 4. Mandatory payouts require the entire pool to be paid out on a specific day, with no carryovers, often on a meet's final day. Jackpot wagers pay closest tickets if no perfect winners exist. Policies vary by track.
Traditional Carryover
A traditional carryover occurs when there are no winning tickets for a wager. When this happens, the entire wagering pool is carried over and added to the pool the next time that wager is offered.
If the same wager type is offered in more than one race on the next racing day, the carryover is typically applied to the later race, unless the track announces otherwise.
Example:
If a Pick 5 wager is offered in both Race 2 and Race 7, the Pick 5 carryover will typically be applied to Race 7.
Carryover policies are determined by each individual track.
Consolation Payouts
Some tracks may choose to offer a consolation payout in addition to carrying over the remaining pool.
A consolation payout rewards tickets that came close to winning but did not select all correct outcomes. Common consolation payouts include:
Pick 4: 3 of 4 correct
Pick 5: 4 of 5 correct
Pick 6: 5 of 6 correct
Consolation payout rules and eligibility vary by track.
Mandatory Payouts
A mandatory payout occurs when a track announces that the entire wagering pool must be paid out on a specific racing day.
When a mandatory payout is in effect:
The entire pool will be paid to winning tickets
No carryover will occur, regardless of the outcome
For Jackpot wagers, the usual “single winning ticket” requirement does not apply during a mandatory payout. If there is no perfect winning ticket, the entire pool—including any jackpot funds—will be paid to the ticket(s) with the closest correct selections.
Mandatory payouts are most commonly offered on a track’s final day of a racing meet, but may also be announced for other special events.