by Taylor Johnston, for Scioto Downs

Columbus, OH — On Saturday (June 3) night 20 Ohio local charities came together to compete against one another in the fifth annual Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association (OHHA) and Scioto Downs Harness Racing Charity Night at the races.

These 20 charities would participate in two races (sixth and eighth) where each charity would draw for their horse, which would be the horse they would cheer on to victory with the opportunity to raise money for their specific charity.

Based off where the horse finishes in each race, the charity received a donation as follows: $5,000 went to the charities with the winning horse (first place); $2,500 second place; $1,250 third place; $1,000 went to the horses who finished fourth through 10th.

Scioto Downs concluded a faux draw to assign the charities post positions and the horses that would race for their charity. The post positions for the sixth race were:
1. Dash Point Hanover: Chron’s and Colitis foundation- Central Ohio
2. Hokuri Handrail N: Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Ohio
3. Sentosa Island: Columbus Zoo
4. Crusoe Hanover: The ALS Association- Central & Southern OH Chapter
5. Fixthedeficit: Canine Companions for Independence
6. King Harvest: Haven House of Pickaway county
7. Lancaster Park: Arthritis Foundation- Central Ohio
8. Abner The Great: Alzheimer’s Association
9. Get Around Town: American Red Cross
10. Sunday Poker: Children’s Hunger Alliance

Fixthedeficit (Chris Page) crossed the wire first in a new career best (1:52) to earn Canine Companion for Independence $5,000. Crusoe Hanover (Kyle Ater) came in second earning The ALS Association- Central & Southern Ohio Chapter $2,500. Finishing third, Hokuri Handrail N ( Josh Sutton) to win Big brothers, Big Sisters of Central Ohio $1,250. All the other finshing horses earned their charities $1,000.

The post positions for the eighth race were:
1. No Excuse Please: Ohio FFA Foundation
2. Major Adonis: New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program
3. Marco De Vie: Parkinson Foundation Ohio
4. Starlite Kid: Make A Wish Foundation
5. No Habla: Ohio 4-H Youth Development
6. I’m Gorgeous: JDRF Diabetes Foundation- Central Ohio
7. Caution Signs: Touching Little Lives, Inc.
8. Orion’s Belt: St Denis Holy Family Immaculate Conception Chapter of St. Vincent DePaul
9. Feelin Lika Winner: Mid- Ohio Foodbank
10. Finnish First: Ronald McDonald House

Major Adonis (Jeremy Smith) won the eighth race earning $5,000 for the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. Orion’s Belt (Kayne Kauffman) took second earning St Denis Holy Family Immaculate Conception Chapter of St. Vincent DePaul $2,500. Finishing third was Starlite Kid (Chris Page) earning Make A Wish Foundation $1,250. The remaining charities received $1,000 each.