On its fifth night back racing, Scioto Downs' program on Thursday (May 28) saw the highest single-card handle in the 62-year history of the track.
The 14-race card, with a pair of $11,000 conditioned-pacing events serving as the evening’s features, handled $1,637,727, which tops the previous handle record of $1,231,444 set on Sept. 7, 1996. Half the races contested on Thursday had 10-horse fields while the other half had nine-horse fields.
Since returning to racing, Scioto has eclipsed $1 million in handle each race night. On its return Friday (May 22), Scioto handled $1.05 million over 12 races. Saturday (May 23) saw $1.12 million bet over 12 races, while the Monday (May 25) card saw $1.196 million wagered over 14 races and the Wednesday (May 27) card saw just over $1.1 million handled over 14 races.
In the evening’s de facto features, Madelines Craycray won the first division with a late charge to land a neck in front at the finish in a 1:54 mile while Rock Smart, the odds-on favourite, went wire to wire in the other division with a 1:53.4 mile.
A pair of $100 winners also blew up the tote board. Rockin Peggy, off at 51-1, won a $4,500 conditioned pace from off the pace and returned $105.40 to win. A few races later, Won Last Feeling surged off cover to land a neck in front at the finish, winning a $9,000 conditioned pace in 1:54 and paying $101.40 to win.