Columbus, OH — The seventh annual Next Generation for pacers and sixth annual Next Generation for trotters are coming up Saturday (July 4) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Each of the four divisions for freshmen have a $150,000 purse.
“In late 2019, a couple horsemen approached me with the idea to have another opportunity to showcase their Ohio-sired horses,” said director of racing Jason Roth. “Historically, the Fourth of July weekend featured the first Ohio Sires Stakes leg for 2-year-olds, so putting the Next Generation in this spot just pushes the Sires Stakes out a week.”
Previous winners of the Next Generation include the now 5-year-old homebred trotter Jurassic Hattie, who has earned nearly $675,000 lifetime; Hambletonian hopeful Big Ranger, who was a local favorite as a 2-year-old last season; last year’s Adios runner-up, Swingtown; and 8-year-old Charlie May, who won the inaugural Next Generation on his way to banking $2.47 million and counting in his career thus far.
All told, there will be $930,000 on the line for Ohio-sired horses on the program. Other events on the 16-race card include six Ohio Sires Stakes divisions for 3-year-old fillies, with three divisions each of pacers and trotters, and the $30,000 final of the Dr. Al Gabel series, for male trotters who have not won two races.
“The Next Generation is part of one of the biggest nights for Ohio-breds,” explained Frank Fraas, executive director of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association. “This year, Ohio-sired horses will race for nearly $24 million dollars in purses. That shows how strong Ohio’s breeding program and racing is. That’s why we say ‘Breed, Buy, Race and Win in Ohio.’”
First post for the Saturday night card is 5:25 p.m. There will be food trucks on site and T-shirt tosses in between races.
The 91-day 2026 Eldorado Scioto Downs regular season runs through Saturday, Sept. 19. Races are held Tuesday through Saturday, with a special holiday card on Labor Day instead of the Tuesday card that week. The track will then reopen for the Breeders Crown, with eliminations held Oct. 16-17 and the finals Oct. 23-24. More information about all the racing action at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.