by Frank Angst

With its combination of large fields and numerous exotic wagers, just calculating the cost of a pick four ticket or superfecta wager on the Breeders’ Cup World Championships can make a handicapper’s hair hurt.

A feature added for 2008 on the Breeders’ Cup website addresses the problem. The Breeders’ Cup Wagering Calculator allows players to determine the cost of exacta, trifecta, superfecta, pick three, pick four, and pick six wagers when multiple horses are entered.

“We think it will come in very handy as people are trying to determine how much each one of their wagers will cost,” said Ken Kirchner, a wagering consultant for Breeders’ Cup. Kirchner and Breeders’ Cup Vice President Peter Rotondo were instrumental in adding the calculator to the site.

The calculator allows players to click on a wager type and then click on an amount, say $1 or $2, or enter a custom amount, like ten cents. The bettor can then enter the number of the horse he or she likes in each leg of the wager and the calculator produces a total cost of the ticket.

The calculator can be added to Facebook pages.

“We’re trying to get it out there in the hands of players and potential new players,” Kirchner said.

Now, if they can just figure out a calculator that kicks out the winning combinations.

To give the calculator a try, click here.

Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times