Scioto Downs opens its 51st season on Friday night with increased purses and a schedule of night racing through September 19.

“Last year at Scioto Downs we had a season to remember,” said Stacy Cahill, general manager, Racing Operations. “It was the track’s 50th anniversary and we had several special events and increased betting throughout the meet.”

The increased betting in 2008 allows Scioto Downs to start its 2009 season with increased purses.

“The exact percentage varies in the different classes of racing,” explained Cahill. “Some increases are as high as 30 per cent while others are more modest. This is our way of rewarding the horsemen for the outstanding show they put on night after night.”

Cahill says the track is the best bargain in central Ohio when it comes to a night of entertainment.

“It’s just a dollar to park and a dollar-and-a-half for general admission,” she says.

Scioto Downs has several special series of races and the track’s opening weekend features the Stienam Pace for females and the Billy Dart Pace for males.

Each of these events will have four preliminary legs in May. The nine horses with the highest earnings in the series will then fight it out in finals in early June.

Scioto will feature other series events which honour such noteworthy Ohio horses as Falcon Almahurst, Killbuck Mary, Steamin Demon, B F Coaltown, Floating Dream, April Star and Dream Of Glory.

“We’ve also got a lot of Ohio Sires Stakes events scheduled this season. Those are always exciting and bring the best horses in Ohio to Scioto,” said Cahill.

After opening night, Scioto races a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule in May and June, and then changes to a Thursday-through-Saturday schedule. Post time is 6:30 p.m.

“We’ll have special afternoon racing programs on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labour Day,” said Cahill. “We’re also bringing back our popular Family Day on Memorial Day.”

First race post time for afternoon racing is 1:00 p.m.

(Scioto)