Eldorado Scioto Downs will host 19 divisions of the Ohio State Fair races this week, Thursday-Saturday (Aug. 3-5).
Horse racing was held at the Ohio State Fairgrounds from the late 1860s through 1984. In 1985, the State Fair races moved to Scioto. The Ohio State Fair runs through Sunday, Aug. 6.
The two-year-old filly pacers and trotters go first, with their races held on Thursday, with three divisions of each going to post. The pacing fillies go off first, in the State Fair Managers Pace as Races 1, 3 and 14, with total purses of $173,300. Morning line favourites include Heartofthesea (by Downbytheseaside) for trainer Brian Brown and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. at 2-1; Rose Run Zoey (Lather Up) for trainer Ryan Miller and driver Tyler Smith at 9-5; and Fearless Ginger (Fear the Dragon) for trainer Kelly O’Donnell and driver Chris Lems at 5-2.
The three divisions of trotting fillies will go for a total of $164,200 in the Ohio Fairs Trot, Races 2, 7 and 13. Early favourites in those races include Sugar Instead (Volstead) for Ronnie Gillespie and Virgil Morgan Jr. at 3-2; Justasiam As (Lionhunter) for Tony Hall and Anette Lorentzon at 5-2; and Next Generation Winner Jurassic Hattie (by Volstead) for Brett Miller and Eric Nesselroad at 2-1.
Friday’s Ohio State Fair races include divisions for two-year-old colt trotters, three-year-old filly pacers and three-year-old filly trotters. The three-year-old filly trotters will be in the Pride of Ohio Trot, Races 1 and 14 going for $151,000 total. Docs Boo Boo, the alternate gaited Downbytheseaside, is the 2-1 morning line favourite in the first divisions for Jeff Nisonger and Mark Winters. The other divisional favorite is Rose Run Yolanda (Triumphant Caviar) at 2-1 for Brett Miller and Todd Luther.
The colt trotters face off in the Ohio State Trot in Races 2, 3 and 10 for total purses of $169,500. Royal Precedent (Creatine) is the even-money favourite in the first division for Aaron Merriman and Sam Schillaci. Other divisional favourites, also at 1-1 on the morning line are Spaaaanzano (Coraggioso) for Aaron Merriman and Chris Beaver and Tennessee Tom (Long Tom) with Chris Page and Ron Burke at 7-5.
The three-year-old filly pacers fill the Ohio First Lady Pace, Races 4 and 7, going for $154,000. A pair of Downbytheseasides are the 2-1 morning line favourites in their respective divisions – McSeaside for Chris Page and Ron Burke, and Super Girl for Tony Hall and Virgil Morgan Jr.
Colts fill up the Saturday night action with two divisions each of the two-year-old colt pacers (going for $172,000); three-year-old colt pacers ($149,700) and three-year-old colt trotters ($147,000).
Racing is held at Scioto Downs each Tuesday and Wednesday with a 3:15 p.m. first post and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with a 5:50 p.m. first post through Saturday, Sept. 16.
(Scioto Downs)