The Texas Horsemen’s Partnership is continually looking for ways to increase handle at Texas tracks in order to provide more purse money for horsemen racing in Texas. In an experiment hoped to do just that, Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, in conjunction with the Texas Horsemen’s Partnership, will lower its Pick 4 takeout from 25% to 15% for its fifth annual Lone Star Million program on Monday (May 26), pending final approval from the Texas Racing Commission. In addition, a second Pick 4 has been added to the 11-race holiday program, which features seven stakes events cumulatively worth $1 million.

The idea is behind lowering the takeout on the Pick 4 is to find out if such a move will have a significant effect on handle. The THP is hopeful that the experiment will result in increased handle.

"Lone Star Million is one of the premiere events of our racing season," said Lone Star Park Vice President and General Manager Jeff Greco. "We're hopeful that a lower takeout and second Pick 4 will bring horseplayers nationwide an added interest to Monday's outstanding racing program."

Lone Star Million annually features top horses from California, Florida, Kentucky and New York against stars of the Southwest. The centerpiece of the seven-race stakes bonanza is the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (Gr. III), a 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds and up won last year by multiple Grade I winner Congaree.

Other stakes on the card are the Grade III, $200,000 WinStar Distaff (fillies and mares at one mile on turf); $200,000 USA Stakes (3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf); $100,000 Beck Auto Group Turf Sprint (3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on turf); $100,000 Valid Expectations (fillies and mares at six furlongs); $50,000 Carter McGregor Jr. Memorial Stakes (Texas-bred 3-year-olds & up at six furlongs); and $50,000 Valor Farm Stakes (Texas-bred 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs).

Lone Star Park's first Pick 4 will cover the third, fourth (Valor Farm Stakes), fifth (Beck Auto Group Turf Sprint) and sixth (Carter McGregor Jr. Memorial Stakes) races. The second Pick 4 will cover races seven (USA Stakes), eight (Lone Star Park Handicap), nine (Valid Expectations Stakes) and 10 (WinStar Distaff). The minimum $1 wager requires bettors to correctly select the winner of four consecutive races.

Entries for the Lone Star Million will be taken Saturday morning. The first live race on the special Memorial Day program on Monday is 1:35 p.m. (CDT).