On Thursday, August 15, Scioto Downs hosted the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association's first Charity Race Night, and by all accounts it was an instant success.
Three of the 10 charities were interviewed at a time in between races so each one could promote their mission and goals. Then after the sixth race, the draw was conducted to partner a charity up with a horse in the seventh race; how the horse finished determined how much money the charity would receive, based on the percentages purses are distributed.
When it was all said and done, Standing Danette and Tony Hall crossed the line first for the Arthritis Foundation of Central Ohio in 1:54. The win got the Foundation a $5,000 donation to their charity and bragging rights as the winner.
“We would like to thank the OHHA and Standing Danette for her wonderful $5,000 donation to the Arthritis Foundation,” said Susan Davis, the foundation's regional vice-president. “The OHHA has been awesome this evening, and Scioto Downs was great --- they were very helpful and supportive of us. The food was wonderful and it’s been an amazing evening. We at the Arthritis Foundation are just very excited and proud to be here at the inaugural event.”
Finishing second was Grace Seelster (driven by Greg Grismore), who was partnered with the National Parkinson’s Foundation and earned $2,500 for the charity. Kay Low (Jeremy Smith) and R E O Speeddragon (Kayne Kauffman) finished third and fourth, respectively, to earn $1,200 for ALS Association and $800 for 4-H Youth Development. The charities whose horses finished fifth through tenth got $500.
Scioto also donated $500 per charity, so nobody left the track with less than $1,000.
Racing resumes Friday and Saturday with a 6:30 p.m. first-race post time.
(Scioto)