NEW ORLEANS (Tuesday, March 27, 2012) – Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will offer a one-time-only Pick 18 on Friday’s gargantuan 18-race card that kicks off at 12:40 p.m. CDT and continues well into the evening. The bet will carry a 10-cent minimum and there will be no carryover, meaning the pool will be paid out to those with the most correct winners on Friday.

“This is not a joke,” said Fair Grounds Vice President & General Manager Eric Halstrom. “We ended up in a situation where we had to offer 18 races on Friday and figured we might as well have some fun with it.”

In order to avoid unnecessarily long lines, and to protect the sanity of mutuel tellers, on track customers will only be able to bet the Pick 18 at self-service machines.

Friday’s 18-race extravaganza was necessitated by the cancellation of last Thursday’s racing at Fair Grounds. The races lost that afternoon had to be made up by the end of the meet, which concludes with a banner Louisiana Derby Day card on Sunday.

Takeout for the Pick 18 will be 25 percent. Only outlets that use the AmTote totalisator system will be able to offer the Pick 18 to its customers. Fans are encouraged to check with their preferred wagering outlet to confirm whether the bet will be offered.