The Pick 6 King / Founder of The Syndicate
There are those who watch the races, and there are those who see the game. Jonathan Stettin was not just born into the sport of kings; he was forged in its fires.
With a father behind the mutuel windows and a childhood spent on the backstretch of New York’s premier ovals, Jon did not learn the game from a book. He learned it in the feed rooms, the jockeys’ quarters, and at the betting windows. By age 16, he had traded the classroom for the racetrack, embarking on a lifelong education in pace, class, and the art of the score.
THE HANDICAPPER
Jon is best known to the world as “The Pick 6 King,” a title earned not through self-proclamation, but through cold, hard cash.
His résumé at the windows is legendary. It includes a $540,000 Pick 6 score at Saratoga (one of only two winning tickets), a $143,000 hit at the Spa anchored by a cold single in the last leg, and multiple six-figure scores at Gulfstream Park, including Rainbow 6 payouts of $79,000 and $178,000. With over $3 million in Pick 6 earnings and counting, Jon doesn’t just handicap races; he dissects them with a surgeon’s precision.
He is the architect behind Tracking Trips, a proprietary methodology that identifies the hidden trouble, bias, and trip-notes that standard data ignores. It is the tool of choice for the “whales” of the industry—the serious players who understand that the difference between winning and losing is often seen, not read.
THE WRITER
Beyond the betting slip, Jon has established himself as the industry’s most fearless voice. He does not report the news; he challenges the narrative.
His groundbreaking work, All 1’s: The Real Story of Ruffian, corrected a decades-old historical record regarding the tragedy of the great filly. This investigative masterpiece is now archived in the prestigious Keeneland Library, a testament to its historical significance.
From exposing the “Milkman” betting scandals to tackling the complex issues of Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW), Jon writes what others are afraid to whisper. His “Past the Wire” column and Past the Wire TV broadcasts have become mandatory consumption for industry insiders, offering unfiltered access to legends like Frankie Dettori, Aidan O’Brien, and Ron Turcotte.
THE AUTHORITY
Today, Jon leads The Syndicate at Past The Wire, a curated team of experts dedicated to “Access, Not Advertising.” Whether he is captaining a TwinSpires Players Pool, appearing on national radio, or breaking down the Thorograph patterns for the Kentucky Derby, his mission remains unchanged:
To bring his audience inside the ropes. To teach the discipline of the “long game.” And to prove, day in and day out, that nobody does it better.
Key Achievements & Milestones:
- The Crown Jewel: $540,000 Pick 6 Win (Saratoga, Aug 10, 1994).
- The Career Total: Over $3 Million in documented Pick 6 earnings and far from finished.
- The Author: All 1’s: The Real Story of Ruffian (Inducted into the Keeneland Library).
- The Analyst: Creator of Tracking Trips and Pace Points methodology.
- The Innovator: Early pioneer of “The Sport of Kings” digital media, transitioning Past The Wire from a column to a global multi-media brand.
