Columbus, OH — The 2019 racing season is fast approaching at Eldorado Scioto Downs with a slight change in schedule from recent years.

Matinee races will be held only on Tuesdays with a post time of 2 p.m. and continue with the traditional 6:30 p.m. post time on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. The 90-day meet will begin on May 7 and conclude on Sept. 7.

The feature night of the 60th season will be closing night, as Scioto Downs will host the country’s best pacers and trotters. The night will include the $400,000 Jim Ewart Memorial Pace, the $200,000 Charlie Hill Memorial Trot, eight $75,000 Ohio Sires Stakes consolation races and the Ohio Sires Stakes for pacers that will go to the gate for $75,000. Scioto Downs will be racing for over $15 million in purses for the 2019 racing season.

The first qualifier is scheduled for May 2 at 10 a.m. Qualifiers will be regularly scheduled on Tuesdays starting on May 7 at 12 noon. until further notice. Horsemen are reminded that any horse that is entered must have a current Coggins within one year.

The racetrack will be open for training on April 22 until the start of the meet for any horsemen that would like to take advantage of the 5/8-mile track free of charge. The track will be open from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. every day except Sundays. Horsemen shipping in to train should ship in directly to the paddock as the ship-in barns will not be open.