Eldorado Scioto Downs kicks off its 2025 race season on Thursday, May 8, with a 16-race card on opening night. Full programs will continue throughout the opening weekend on Friday and Saturday.
“We’re pretty happy with the number of horses in the box,” said Jason Roth, Scioto’s Director of Racing. “We had to move a couple races from Thursday to Friday due to five divisions of a mini-series. Of course I’d love to get everyone raced, but we ‘only’ built a 16-race paddock, so our max is 160 horses each night.”
The Jerry Knappenberger Series, named after the long-time general manager of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, is for colt and gelding pacers who are non-winners of one pari-mutuel race. The event goes off as Races 2, 5, 10, 12 and 14.
Seaside Star leaves from the rail in Race 12 for driver Trevor Smith and trainer Dean Glispie. The three-year-old gelded son of Downbytheseaside-Rock N Roll Xample was an $85,000 purchase from the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and has earned $39,679 while staying a true maiden, finishing second or third in 10 of his 11 lifetime starts.
“I had him for one start as a two-year-old. He was a nice colt but just had some maturing and growing up to do,” said Glispie. “Over the winter, he did a lot of growing up but not out – I would like to see him get a little bigger. He’s a very nice colt, but was green and immature.”
When Scioto Downs goes on air on Thursday, a new face will appear. John Rallis will join on-air commentator Jenna Otten for opening day and Friday, then work with track announcer Barry Vicroy on Saturday. Rallis is the associate editor for TROT Magazine, the publication of Standardbred Canada, and has been seen doing interviews, on-air commentating and providing picks for Woodbine Mohawk Park and The Meadowlands, as well as race analysis for DRF Harness.
“People love full fields, good racing and low takeout wagers,” said Rallis. “And that is exactly what Scioto Downs brings. I’m super pumped to be a part of opening weekend there and I hope everyone plays along as well!”
The wagering menu at Scioto on Thursday features a $7,500 guaranteed pool as part of the USTA’s Strategic Wagering initiative. The $.50 Pick-4 starts in the seventh race and has a low 14 per cent takeout. Other featured wagers include two $.50 Pick-5 (starting in Races 1 and 11); two more $.50 Pick-4s (starting in Races 3 and 13); and $.20 Super High Fives in Races 4, 9 and 16.
The 90-day 2025 race meet at Scioto Downs runs through Saturday, Sept. 13. Live racing will take place Tuesday through Saturday, with special holiday cards on Memorial Day and Labor Day. First post is set for 5:45 p.m. each day, except for Memorial Day (4 p.m.), June 19 (4 p.m.), Thursday, July 4 (3:15 p.m.), and Friday, Sept. 12, which will feature a 6:45 p.m. post time to accommodate horsepeople attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale.
(With files from Scioto Downs)