The New York Racing Association (NYRA) unveiled a new wager, the NYRA Triple Play, that begins at Belmont Park’s upcoming spring/summer meet.

Vault-NYRA Triple Play
Vault won last year’s Ruffian Stakes, which returns Sunday, May 8. That makes it eligible for the NYRA Triple Play Pick 3, which covers the final three races on Belmont Park’s Sunday cards. (Image: NYRA/Coglianese Photos)

The Pick 3 wager comes with a $3 minimum and covers the final three races of Belmont Park’s Sunday cards. It also comes with a hefty 24% takeout rate. By comparison, NYRA’s Cross Country Pick 5 comes with a 15% takeout. That 24% is standard for NYRA Pick 3 wagers.

The NYRA Triple Play begins May 1, the first Sunday of Belmont Park’s spring/summer meet. That meet opens April 28 and runs for 44 race days. It offers a mandatory payout of the net pool each Sunday.

NYRA officials said the retail-only Triple Play is designed to reward the everyday player. Retail-only wagers are those that can only be made at the track, at simulcast facilities or on ADW platforms.

Triple Play limited to Sundays only

“NYRA is committed to adding new wagering opportunities that appeal to our core customers,” said NYRA General Manager of Content Services Joe Longo in a statement. “We look forward to further evaluating how the Triple Play performs within the context of our overall wagering menu.”

Last year, NYRA abandoned its 20-cent Empire Pick 6 Jackpot wager. It replaced it with a $1 Pick 6 available to retail customers only. Before that, NYRA restricted both its Late Pick 5 and Cross Country Pick 5 to retail customers only.

Since it’s a Sunday-only wager, horseplayers won’t be able to make the Triple Play wager on June 11 — Belmont Stakes Day. Among the busiest racing days of the year, that day features eight Grade 1 races, including the last leg of the Triple Crown — the Belmont Stakes.

As for Aqueduct, it’s 15-day spring meet wraps up Sunday.