by Tom LaMarra, USTA Web Newsroom Correspondent

Lexington, KY — In keeping with recent trends, Ohio’s four harness tracks have requested a total of 27 fewer racing dates for 2011.

The requests were submitted to the Ohio State Racing Commission Aug. 16 and publicly released Aug. 19.

Raceway Park in Toledo requested only 40 days of racing for next year, down 16 from 2010 and only one-third the legislated minimum. Lebanon Raceway asked for 50 days, two fewer than this year but less than half the legislated minimum. Scioto Downs near Columbus seeks 56 racing dates, nine less than 2010 and less than half the legislated minimum.

Northfield Park near Cleveland again requested 213 days, though track general manager Tom Aldrich said he noted in the request business levels during next year’s meet would determine whether an adjustment is sought.

Pari-mutuel handle is down double-digits in Ohio again this year, in part because of competition from racetrack casinos in neighboring states.

“We want to sustain live racing at the current level,” Aldrich said, noting ongoing economic woes and declines in pari-mutuel handle are making things difficult. “If we can’t make purses, we may have to come to the racing commission and ask to drop days.

“I’m not going to reduce purses. They’re already low enough. But our business model is unraveling.”

Northfield actually offers more live dates now than it did in 1990. Since that time, the peak years were 1997 and 1998, each with 238 racing days.

Raceway Park near the Michigan border has seen the largest swing. The track offered 158 days of live racing in 1998 and has been reducing its schedule since that time.

The legislated minimum requirement is tied to the Ohio law that authorizes year-round full-card simulcasts at each track. In order to maintain simulcast licenses, the tracks must get horsemen to agree to fewer live racing dates; thus far, they have.

According to OSRC statistics, in the past 20 years the most harness dates were offered in 1998 with 619. The number requested for 2011 is 359.