Ohio racing enjoyed a banner year in 2022, as Buckeye State-connected horses won a couple of Breeders Crowns and are major contenders for year-end honors. Downbytheseaside proved his first crop was no fluke as he established himself as one of the top stallions in our sport (if there really was any doubt), and both pari-mutuel racetracks and county fairs had solid seasons. But what will 2023 bring? Basically, more of the same. You don't fix what isn't broken. Dave Bianconi, Director of Racing Operations at MGM Northfield Park, plans a few tweaks: "We will again card more races than any track in the country," he said. "We will probably adjust our post time between 6 P.M. and 6:40 as we did in 2022, based on the number of races we expect to card as we move from four nights to five nights a week of racing. "And we are adding a Super Hi-Five wager in the first race. It's proved to be popular, so we decided to add an early opportunity. I don't like to tinker with my wagering format much," said Bianconi, "so we will give this at least six months and won't really change anything else." There will be plenty of racing opportunities in the Buckeye State, as the Ohio Harness Horseman's Association Executive Director Renee Mancino explained on the Ohio Farm Bureau's Ohio Weekly podcast. "We have 55,000 starts a year - 65 fairs and four pari-mutuel tracks. We are #1 in the country for owners and horses produced. A million engagements on our live stream from 33 countries. Our outreach - live streaming the fairs and really focusing on youth - keeps us in the public eye," Mancino explained. And those starts come at all levels, from county fair racing with purses in four figures to the second-tier Buckeye Stallion Series to the Ohio Sires Stakes. Add overnight racing at the pari-mutuel tracks and racing opportunity abounds. It concerns Bianconi slightly. "Horse supply is always going to be an issue. When there are more dates, more tracks, it's harder for everybody to fill their races," Bianconi explained. Only New York has more pari-mutuel tracks than Ohio and the state has a nice pattern of racing that will not change in 2023. Northfield races year-round in the north and in the south and central area, a three-track circuit serves the public - Miami Valley, near Lebanon, handles spring dates; Eldorado Scioto Downs, just south of Columbus, races in the summer, and Penn Entertainment's Dayton Raceway handles the fall dates. Jason Bluhm, Director of Racing at Dayton, pretty much echoed Bianconi's thoughts, although after hosting Ohio's Super Night in 2022, things may calm down just a little bit. "Our team did a great job with Super Night. We don't have the perfect facility for that," said Bluhm. "But our fans are loyal, so we are able to keep purses pretty much at the same level as Scioto and Miami Valley. We've found a pretty good groove, even though our casino is a bit smaller." ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Bluhm is also confident, but watchful, of his horse supply: "We try to put on 14 races - we have a 14-race paddock. We want well-rounded fields. Hoosier might hurt us a bit - they keep extending their schedule.  You want to make sure you have enough horses so you don't have to write horses in, or go with short fields [which is good for the horseman, but not good for the gambler]." The biggest news in Ohio racing this year won't be that most of the top free-for-all events will be Invitationals, rather than stakes, giving the racing offices huge flexibility. Nor is it that The Little Brown Jug will, for the second year, offer open supplements. The big news in Ohio in 2023 will be physical. Scioto Downs will have a new grandstand for its May opening if all goes to plan. The new grandstand will be open-air and will feature 768 stadium seats, 280 terrace and apron seats and two VIP suites that can accommodate 130 guests. The current clubhouse and race book will remain. Meanwhile, at Northfield, new lighting is being installed and a new digital toteboard has replaced the track's original system, which had been upgraded several times. And while Bianconi says things won't be fully functional on that new board, which includes a giant video screen, I can say I attended a recent event at the track and the quality of the picture was remarkable. If there any gray clouds on the horizon, sports wagering, which comes to the Buckeye State January 1, 2023, could dilute wagering, as Mancino pointed out. But Dayton's Bluhm sees opportunity. "Sports bettors fit our demographic better than casino gamblers do, and I think we have a chance to convert a few of them," said Bluhm. The other possible gray cloud is the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), but since that act does not affect Standardbreds (and when the courts are finished may not affect any breed), the track officials we spoke with don't see much of a problem. In conclusion Bluhm said: "We have a fairly strong future. We have a good horseman's organization. We have a Governor who supports horse racing, which helps. Support among government and among tracks is critical." Bianconi agreed: "We have a strong horseman's association which we work with well, and I hope that continues indefinitely." It sounds like 2023 will be another strong year for harness racing in the Buckeye State. Best wishes for a Happy Holiday season, whatever you celebrate, and may the New Year be healthy and prosperous. Now go cash. In January. At Northfield Park.