Slots for the fourth annual Next Generation, to be held on Saturday, July 1 at Eldorado Scioto Downs, will be up for bid during a special Preferred Equine Online auction on Wednesday, June 21 at 3 p.m.

A minimum starting bid of $10,000 must be placed on the available slots. Any amount bid over $10,000 will go to the Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA). Two slots will be available in each of the colt and filly pace divisions, while three entries for colt trotters and a singular spot for the filly trot will be available.

The Next Generation is for Ohio-sired two-year-olds and is held during the week that historically was the first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes. Slot purchasers do not have to designate a horse until the time of declaration. Trainers, owners and stables are limited to one entry per division. There will be eight horses in each division, with each horse having their nose on the gate. Full conditions for the Next Generation are available on the USTA’s website.

The STA is a nonprofit whose mission is to accredit, inspect and award grants to approved organizations that rehabilitate, train and re-home Standardbreds. David Reid, the founder of Preferred Equine/Preferred Equine Online, is also the President of the STA.

“We are happy to partner with Scioto to offer these slots up for sale,” said Reid. “It is an exciting time of year with the two-year-olds getting started and this race is a great way to promote the Ohio program in a big way.”

The box closes for the Saturday, July 1 card on Tuesday, June 27 at 11 a.m. The draw will be conducted live during the Tuesday afternoon card on the simulcast feed shortly after 5 p.m.

Anyone interested in bidding on a Next Generation slot can call Scioto’s Director of Racing with any questions at 614-295-4082

(Eldorado Scioto Downs)