For the 32nd straight year, Virgil Morgan Jr. topped the trainers' leaderboard at Eldorado Scioto Downs with 141 wins during the 91-day meet that concluded on Saturday, Sept. 19.

The conditioner won four races on the 14-race closing night card. He sent out winners Odds On Phil ($12), Dancing Stranger ($11.40), I Did It Myway ($10.40) and Baleville Bomber ($5). He finished with a 41-win margin over second-placed Ron Burke, with Mike Hitchcock third with 50 wins.

“I’m grateful for my help, all the people I work with, owners, clients, partners,” said Morgan. “Just a good group of horses this year and a lot of hard work with everybody on the team, and it’s paid off. I greatly appreciate them.

“I don’t take winning for granted. I think when I was younger, I did. But I try to appreciate it more.”

Morgan, a native of Grove City, Ohio, nine miles away from Scioto, was the first harness racing trainer to win 5,000 career races and has now won more than 8,100 races and $92 million in earnings. The 60-year-old currently sits sixth on the top trainers of all time list by earnings and second by wins. He was inducted into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2021.

Chris Page was named Scioto’s leading driver for the second year in a row, securing 231 wins as he finished with four on closing night. Less than two months ago, Page notched his 8,000th career driving tally, also at Scioto. He has amassed 413 victories this season, his sixth straight year with more than 400. Luke Hanners finished second in the drivers' standings with 211 victories, followed by Tyler Smith with 128.

Burke won with Fear The Hate ($3), Martins Millions ($4.20) and Interstatedaydream ($4.80) on closing night.

While Scioto’s regular racing season came to a close Saturday, Morgan is looking forward to four more racing dates at the south Columbus oval in October.

“It’s awesome (that the Breeders Crown is coming to Scioto). It’s a long time coming," he said. "I think we’ve arrived. I think we’re a marquee state, a marquee track. The paddock, the grandstand – the millions of dollars that were poured into that. I’m really excited for it, and I think we’ll do a great job here.”

Scioto Downs will host the Breeders Crown eliminations on Oct. 16-17 and the finals on Oct. 23-24.

(With files from Scioto Downs)