Miami Valley Gaming and Racing concluded its fourth season of live harness racing with a flourish on Monday, May 8 with total handle for the 87-day meet up substantially over 2016 figures.
Miami Valley Gaming and Racing concluded its fourth season of live harness racing with a flourish on Monday, May 8. Total handle for the 87-day meet was up substantially over 2016 figures; and total purses paid was up over 25 per cent year-over-year. All indicators have progressively improved each season; particularly during the last two. Activity at the claim box showed 481 horses changing hands during the meet for over $6.5 million.
Trace Tetrick took the driver’s dash title at Miami Valley for the first time with 154 victories; while Tyler George copped his first training title by harnessing 50 winners. Tetrick was one of three drivers whose mounts exceeded $1 million in earnings during the 2017 season. George was one of 35 trainers who sent out winners of 10 or more races during the highly competitive session that ran from January 4 through May 8.
The 2017 meet started with a bang during the first week when Miami Valley introduced the $25,000 North American Drivers Challenge, won by Canada’s Doug McNair. The drivers' challenge attracted 30 nationally-known reinsmen to southwest Ohio over three days. Four months later, the meet concluded with another Miami Valley innovation, the well-received $200,000 Scarlet & Gray Day showcasing the best three-year-old Ohio sired horses in four races.
In between, Miami Valley also featured a popular Claim To Fame series, a quartet of Survivor Series tournaments, nine ‘Lebanon Legends’ late-closing series, the traditional James K. Hackett Memorial Championships, a new Lucky Buckeye night for older state-bred horses, the first leg of the annual lucrative Ohio Sires Stakes program, the first leg of the new Buckeye Stallion Series, and a pair of nationally recognized Grand Circuit events for the best mares in North America.
“We want to thank the hundreds of horsemen and the thousands of guests who were part of such a fantastic season,” said Racing Operations Manager, Helen Carlo. "The significant increases in both handle and purses has set the bar high, but plans are underway leading towards a repeat performance in 2018."
(with files from Miami Valley)