Columbus, OH — The Next Generation, a race held at Eldorado Scioto Downs for 2-year-old Ohio-breds requiring a $10,000 nomination, has filled all four divisions. First raced in 2020 for pacers, trotting divisions were added for 2021. All events will be raced over the July 4th weekend and each will go for $150,000.

“Even with how the pandemic affected us all in 2020, we were happy with how the inaugural Next Generation was received,” said Eldorado Scioto Downs Director of Racing Jason Roth. “It was natural to add trotting divisions for this year.”

The concept, similar to the Mohawk Million, required nominators to pay $10,000 to claim a spot in any of the events. Owners and trainers could purchase one spot in each division, with payment due by March 15, but do not need to declare a horse to race until the draw for the race(s).

Nominations totaled nine in each division and were led with Greg Luther (Black Magic Racing) and Weaver Bruscemi, each purchasing a spot in all four divisions. TheStable.ca purchased spots in three divisions while Fiddlers Creek Stable, Foulk Stables, Hutchison Harness, Jason Shumway and Rosy Weaver each took a spot in two divisions.

“When Jason approached me about the idea last year, I thought it was a great concept,” said Chad Foulk, who was instrumental in spreading the word about the event in 2020. “When it gets closer to the race, if you don’t have a horse for the spot you bought, you can sell it to someone else, which gives great flexibility.”

Trotters will face off on Friday (July 2), while the pacers will race on Saturday (July 3). The box closes for both Friday and Saturday cards on Tuesday with a double draw at 2 p.m.

The Scioto Downs race meet commences on Tuesday (May 4). Qualifiers will first be held on April 28 at noon and opening day at 4:15 p.m., and will continue on Tuesdays at 4:15 p.m. until mid-June when they move to Monday afternoons with all the 2-year-olds starting to qualify. Racing continues through Saturday (Sept. 18).

Information about the upcoming meet, including a list of buyers for The Next Generation and eligible horses for the Charlie Hill Memorial Trot and Ohio State Fair races, can be found on the Scioto Downs website.