Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway is readying for its eighth season of live harness racing with opening day slated for Friday, Sept. 24. The 70-day meet will feature substantially higher purses, new post times, a new betting format and a newly installed passing lane in the home stretch.
“Average daily overnight purses will be approximately 40 per cent higher than last year, likely setting a record high for an Ohio harness track,” according to Race Secretary Gregg Keidel. “With a nightly average that will likely exceed $150,000, I would expect horse owners and trainers to fill the box with enough entries to provide full fields and competitive races.”
The new post time for the majority of the meet is 4 p.m., with cards presented each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
“Last year, we had a one month trial run at 4 p.m. and did really well there,” said Director of Racing Jason Bluhm. “It’s a nice time slot that gives us the best chance at higher handles and also gives time for the majority of horsemen to get their barn work done before heading to the track. It gets us all headed home around 9 p.m. and is a win-win for everyone involved.”
The only exception through October will be a special 6 p.m. post time on Saturday, Oct. 2 for the track's Dayton Derbies Night.
Beginning November 1, the Monday programs will commence at 2 p.m. The earlier start time will also be in effect during closing week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
An entirely new betting format will be presented, including a host of exotic wagers which feature 100 per cent carryover provisions when no one holds a winning ticket.
“It’s been a popular change, with a lot of positive feedback, that’s been incorporated by a couple tracks, with large carryovers creating huge pools which is producing higher handles,” said Bluhm.
For the first time, drivers will have the option of using an inside passing lane in the home stretch at Hollywood Dayton.
“The inside strip allows at least one more horse, presumably trapped in behind the leader, to have a clear shot to join the mad dash to the finish line,” explained Bluhm. “We polled our drivers and many regular patrons and found a large majority like the idea.”
Many of the best and richest older harness horses in North America will descend on Hollywood Dayton Raceway on October 2 when the track proudly presents the Dayton Pacing Derby, the Dayton Distaff Pacing Derby and the Dayton Trotting Derby — all carrying minimum purses of $175,000. The marquee events annually attract stellar fields as well as Hall of Fame and Grand Circuit drivers. Derby night is also paired with the Ohio Sire Stakes Consolations making for an action-packed stakes card.
The following day, Hollywood Dayton will play host to the Montgomery County Fair on a special Sunday card and the following week will play host to the Ohio Fair Championships.
Condition sheets for week one of the 2021 season are posted on the USTA website under the “Horseman” tab.
(With files from Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway)