Report: Santa Anita limits late computer-assisted win wagering

Santa Anita has followed suit with Del Mar to prevent computer-assisted wagering in the win pool within two minutes to post.

The choice by Santa Anita to continue Del Mar's similar policy was reported by Steve Andersen of Daily Racing Form. Del Mar instituted it on July 29 after multiple heavy win-pool swings during the the first seven race days of the meet between when horses were being loaded into the gate and when final odds were posted.

Late computer-assisted win wagering frustrates rank-and-file bettors, leaving them with win prices that are sharply different from what the board suggests they will get even if they put their bets in shortly before post. However, computer-assisted wagering is also a significant source of handle and therefore a major source of racetrack revenue.

Del Mar and Santa Anita are not the only tracks to prevent late win bets from computer-assisted wagering. The New York Racing Association has barred such bets in the last two minutes before post from its win pools since 2021.