Scioto Downs will open its 2009 season with substantial purse increase in many of its regular classes and in some of its series events.

“The track had a very good Golden Anniversary year in 2008,” said Stacy Cahill, track general manager. “The increase in total betting last year allows us to bump many of the purses up to help our horsemen.”

She stressed that purse increases vary from class to class. Some increases will be as high as 30 percent while others are more modest.

“Overall, we’ve increased purses in all our races except lowest three classes,” Cahill continued. “We also increased the purses in the legs of our many of series events, such as the Billy Dart, BF Coaltown, Floating Dream, Killbuck Mary, and Steamin Demon.”

Scioto Downs opens its 51st season on May 8 with post time at 6:30 p.m. The Ohio State Fair Stakes will be held at the track on July 30 – August 1.

Scioto will schedule qualifying races on May 1 and May 6 at 10:30 a.m.