by Anne Doolin, for Scioto Downs

Columbus, OH — Horsemen have until Monday, April 16, not only to get paperwork into the IRS, but to get nomination payments for the late closing series at Scioto Downs into the mail.

Scioto kicks off its 49th season of racing on Friday, May 4, with a new earlier post time of 6:30 p.m. The south Columbus track, with 80 dates this year, races Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Ohio-sired 3- and 4-year-olds have plenty of racing opportunities in a variety of late closing events during the season. The late closers, for pacers and trotters, start in May with four legs, and feature finals worth up to $11,000. Nomination fees for the seven Ohio-sired events are due postmarked no later than April 15.

The Labor Day matinee, with a 1:00 p.m. post time, features the return of the “Best of the Rest” stakes for Ohio Sires Stakes eligibles (excluding the eight top highest point earners). The Best of the Rest is the consolation event for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits that competed in OSS action, and have no additional fees to enter.

There is also an open late closer, the Dream of Glory Trot for 3-year-olds and up, that begins in July, and closes June 15.

A complete list of conditions, and an entry form, is available online at www.sciotodowns.com or by calling Director of Racing Stacy Cahill at (614) 491-2515.