Columbus, OH — Ted Rau, 79, died Jan. 13, 2023, after a battle with cancer.

Mr. Rau spent five decades in harness racing, starting back in 1971, during which time he drove 379 winners to purses of $823,425. The highlight of his career was buying a yearling for $700; that yearling turned into Skipper Dale Marx, who started in 328 races, winning 73 times, and earning $454,772 with a record of 1:55.3. He was a horse of a lifetime.

According to his son, Scott, “During the last weeks of dad’s life he talked a lot of the past — and like our father it wasn’t about him — he wanted to make sure to thank all the friends he made, thank Scioto Downs for all the great years and being grateful for being a part of the business when people helped people and watched out for each other. There are many people he wanted to thank, and all you friends of his know who you are, and from our family — thank you.

“He never lost his humor. One of the last conversations we had was ‘I sure hope Terry Holton still reads the track kitchen lunch menu on the loud speaker’ — those of you from Scioto know what that means.”