Pick 6 Calculator: Chase Horse Racing's Biggest Jackpots

The Pick 6 is horse racing's ultimate challenge—select winners in six consecutive races for potentially life-changing payouts. Our free calculator helps you build strategic tickets without breaking the bank.

What Is a Pick 6 Bet?

The Pick 6 requires picking winners in six designated consecutive races. Carryover jackpots can reach hundreds of thousands or even millions when no one hits all six.

Quick Answer: Pick 6 costs = Legs multiplied together × base bet. A $1 ticket with 2-3-2-4-3-2 horses costs 2×3×2×4×3×2 = 288 combinations = $288. Major carryovers create +EV opportunities that sophisticated players target.

How to Use Our Free Pick 6 Calculator

Use the Pick 6 Calculator →

Enter your selections to see total cost and combinations.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enter Selections Per Leg: How many horses in each race

2. Set Base Bet: Usually $0.20 or $0.50 minimum

3. View Total Cost: See exact ticket price

4. Adjust Selections: Balance coverage vs. budget

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Race 1-6 Selections	Horses picked per race	2, 3, 1, 4, 2, 3
Base Bet	Minimum per combo	$0.50
Total Combos	Selections multiplied	144
Total Cost	Combos × base	$72

Pick 6 Combination Calculator

Formula

Total Combinations = Race1 × Race2 × Race3 × Race4 × Race5 × Race6
Total Cost = Combinations × Base Bet

Quick Reference

Selections	Combinations	$0.50 Cost	$1 Cost
1-1-1-1-1-1	1	$0.50	$1
2-2-2-2-2-2	64	$32	$64
3-3-3-3-3-3	729	$365	$729
2-3-2-3-2-3	216	$108	$216
1-4-1-4-1-4	256	$128	$256
ALL-1-1-1-1-1	~10	$5	$10

Cost Explosion Warning

Adding horses multiplies cost:

Change	Original	New	Cost Increase
Add 1 horse to 1 leg	2×2×2×2×2×2 = 64	3×2×2×2×2×2 = 96	+50%
Add 1 horse to 2 legs	2×2×2×2×2×2 = 64	3×3×2×2×2×2 = 144	+125%
Add 1 horse to all legs	2×2×2×2×2×2 = 64	3×3×3×3×3×3 = 729	+1,039%

Pick 6 Strategy

Ticket Construction Philosophy

Single vs. Spread:

Approach	Structure	Best When
All singles	1-1-1-1-1-1	Strong opinions, long odds
Spread	3-3-3-3-3-3	Chalky card, want coverage
Key + spread	1-1-3-4-1-2	Confident in some, uncertain in others

A/B/C System

Professional handicappers categorize:

• A horses: Strong opinion, use single
• B horses: Contenders, use 2-3
• C races: Wide open, use 4+

Build tickets with A horses keyed, B with moderate coverage, C with wide coverage.

Budget-Based Building

Budget	Strategy	Typical Structure
$25	Ultra-selective	Many singles, 1-2 spreads
$50	Selective	2-3 spreads, rest singles
$100	Moderate	Mix of singles and 3-4 spreads
$250+	Coverage	Multiple tickets, wider spreads

Real-World Pick 6 Examples

Example 1: Budget Ticket ($24)

Analysis:

• Race 1: Love horse #3 (single)
• Race 2: Two strong (2, 5)
• Race 3: Competitive, use three (1, 4, 7)
• Race 4: Strong favorite (6)
• Race 5: Two horses (3, 8)
• Race 6: Two horses (2, 9)

Cost: 1 × 2 × 3 × 1 × 2 × 2 = 24 × $1 = $24

Example 2: Spread Ticket ($72)

Analysis: Less confidence across the card

Structure: 2-2-3-3-2-2 Cost: 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 2 × 2 = 144 × $0.50 = $72

Example 3: Carryover Play ($200)

Situation: Large carryover creates value

Strategy: Multiple tickets covering different scenarios

• Main ticket: Key opinions (1-3-2-1-4-2)
• Backup: Alternative winners (2-2-3-2-2-3)

Combined coverage: More ways to win without overlapping

Understanding Carryovers

What Is a Carryover?

When no one hits the Pick 6, a portion of the pool carries over to the next day. Some pools accumulate for weeks.

Why Carryovers Create Value

Pool Type	Structure	Value
Normal	Today's bets only	Negative EV
Small carryover	+50% previous pool	Potentially neutral
Large carryover	+200%+ previous pool	Potentially +EV

Carryover Math

Example:

• Normal pool: $200,000
• Carryover: $500,000
• Total pool: $700,000
• Takeout: 25%
• Net pool: $525,000
• Your combinations: 500 out of 100,000 possible
• Expected return: $525,000 × (500/100,000) = $2,625

If your ticket costs $250 and expected return is $2,625, that's massive +EV.

Reality check: You need to hit to collect, and you're competing against syndicates.

Advanced Pick 6 Concepts

Multiple Tickets

Instead of one giant ticket:

• Build 2-3 tickets with different structures
• Avoid overlapping combinations
• Cover different "ifs" scenarios

Part-Wheels

Focus coverage where needed:

• Use ALL in wide-open races
• Single strong opinions
• Moderate coverage elsewhere

Dutching Within Legs

Weight combinations by probability:

• More combos involving likely winners
• Fewer combos with longshots
• Optimizes expected value

Common Pick 6 Mistakes

1. Under-Budgeting: Pick 6 needs coverage. $20 tickets rarely hit competitive pools.

2. Over-Spreading: 4-4-4-4-4-4 costs $2,048 per $0.50. That's rarely justified.

3. Ignoring Favorites: Favorites win ~33% of races. Excluding them from many legs is high-risk.

4. Chasing Without Edge: Big carryover doesn't help if you're not handicapping well.

5. One Ticket Mentality: Multiple strategic tickets often beat one massive spread.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if no one hits the Pick 6?

The jackpot portion carries over. Consolation payouts go to those with 5 of 6.

What's the minimum Pick 6 bet?

Usually $0.20 to $1 per combination, depending on track.

Should I play Pick 6 every day?

No. Focus on large carryovers and cards where you have strong opinions. Random plays are -EV.

How do syndicates approach Pick 6?

Syndicates pool money for massive coverage (thousands of combinations) targeting carryovers. Individual bettors can't compete on coverage but can win with focused tickets.

What's the consolation payout?

Getting 5 of 6 correct typically pays from a smaller pool. Helpful for recouping costs.

Are Pick 6 payouts taxed?

Significant payouts (over $5,000 or 300:1 odds) typically require tax withholding. Consult tax advisor.

Pick 6 Jackpot History

Major Pick 6 pools have paid millions:

• Breeders' Cup Pick 6: Regular seven-figure pools
• Gulfstream Rainbow 6: $20M+ jackpots
• Santa Anita Pick 6: Frequent large carryovers

These create occasional +EV opportunities for skilled handicappers.

Pro Tips for Pick 6 Betting

• Study the card: Strong handicapping trumps coverage

• Target carryovers: Normal pools are tough to beat

• Use multiple tickets: Don't overlap, maximize distinct combinations

• Budget appropriately: Pick 6 is high-variance; don't overextend

• Track results: Learn which strategies work for you

Related Horse Racing Calculators

• Pick 4 Calculator - Four-race challenge
• Pick 3 Calculator - Three consecutive winners
• Daily Double Calculator - Two-race betting
• Trifecta Calculator - Single race exotic
• Superfecta Calculator - Top four finishers

Conclusion

The Pick 6 offers horse racing's biggest potential payouts, but smart play requires strategic ticket construction and targeting favorable pools. Our free calculator shows exact costs for any ticket structure, helping you balance coverage with budget.

Calculate Your Pick 6 Ticket Now →

Hitting the Pick 6 requires skill, strategy, and some luck. Use the calculator to build tickets you can afford, target carryovers when they create value, and enjoy the challenge of horse racing's ultimate multi-race puzzle.