by Tom LaMarra, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Columbus, OH — Ohio’s racing fairs received another shot in the arm April 28 when the Ohio State Racing Commission adopted a resolution authorizing $2.87 million in video lottery terminal revenue for purses.

In addition, fairs will receive about $708,000 for operating expenses. Some money goes to fairs that don’t offer live harness racing.

The total of more than $3.58 million is up 83 percent from 2014, OSRC executive director Bill Crawford said.

The request for the disbursement was made from the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association. Ohio has more than 60 fairs that offer live racing, and with recent increases in the Standardbred foal crop, they expect more interest and large fields.

Under another resolution adopted by the OSRC, more than $2 million in revenue from non-racetrack casinos in the state will be paid to racing for the first quarter of 2015. The Ohio Standardbred Development Fund and the Ohio Thoroughbred Race Fund each will receive $392,000; the bulk goes to racetracks to support purses and operations.