by Tom LaMarra, USTA Web Newsroom Correspondent

Columbus, OH — The Ohio State Racing Commission on Thursday (Aug. 22) approved distribution of more than $2.1 million in revenue derived from the four full-scale casinos in the state.

The panel also gave the OK for $290,000 to be taken from the Scioto Downs Racino video lottery terminal escrow fund for use at the Delaware County Fair and by the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association.

The horse racing industry gets three percent of the tax on gross casino revenue. The OSRC then pays the money on a quarterly basis.

The latest payment is the fourth since the casinos opened. Racing’s share has cleared the $7 million mark.

The Standardbred Development Fund and Ohio Thoroughbred Race Fund will each receive $402,680 from the casino fund. Racetracks will get from $59,890 to $326,361 for purses while eligible tracks — those not tied to the full-scale casinos — will each get $79,476 to support operations.

The OSRC will get $105,968 to help pay for administrative costs.

The escrow account at Scioto Downs was created last year in lieu of the track having a contract with the OHHA on the percentage of VLT revenue that will go to purses. It’s currently nine percent, the minimum allowed by law.

The OHHA decided $120,000 would go to support purses at the Delaware County Fair, with another $50,000 devoted to the Little Brown Jug for 3-year-old pacers. Another $120,000 will be used for the Horsemen’s Health Insurance Trust, which is administered by the OHHA.