Scioto Downs: Live racing begins Thursday; Rallis joins opening weekend team

Eldorado Scioto Downs kicks off the 2025 race season with 16 races on opening night, Thursday (May 8), and full cards will continue throughout opening weekend (Friday-Saturday).

“We’re pretty happy with the number of horses in the box,” said Jason Roth, Scioto’s Director of Racing. “We had to move a couple races from Thursday to Friday due to five divisions of a mini-series. Of course I’d love to get everyone raced, but we ‘only’ built a 16-race paddock, so our max is 160 horses each night.”

The Jerry Knappenberger series, named after the long-time general manager of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, is for colt & gelding pacers who are non-winners of one pari-mutuel race. The event goes off as races 2-5-10-12-14.

Seaside Star leaves from the rail in race 12 for driver Trevor Smith and trainer Dean Glispie. The 3-year-old gelded son of Downbytheseaside was an $85,000 purchase from the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and has earned $28,810 while staying a true maiden finishing second or third in 10 of his 11 lifetime starts.

“I had him for one start as a 2-year-old. He was a nice colt but just had some maturing and growing up to do,” said Glispie. “Over the winter he did a lot of growing up but not out – I would like to see him get a little bigger. He’s a very nice colt but was green and immature.”

The wagering menu at Scioto on Thursday features a $7,500 guaranteed pool as part of the USTA’s Strategic Wagering initiative. The .50 Pick-4 starts in the seventh race and has a low 14% takeout. Other featured wagers include two .50 Pick-5 (starting in race one and 11); two more .50 Pick-4s (starting in races three and 13); and .20 Super High Fives in races 4, 9 and 16.

Free program pages will be available for each live (and qualifying) card will be available online at the Scioto Downs website. The PPs link will also be posted via X (formally known as Twitter), so be sure to follow @SciotoRacing for wagering updates, features and horsemen information.

John Rallis on air for Scioto Opening Weekend

When Eldorado Scioto Downs goes on air Thursday (May 8) to start the 2025 racing season, a new face will appear. John Rallis will join on-air commentator Jenna Otten for opening day and Friday, then work with track announcer Barry Vicroy on Saturday (May 10).

Rallis has been seen doing interviews, on-air commentating and providing picks for Woodbine Mohawk Park and the Meadowlands, race analysis for DRF Harness and is the associate editor for Trot Magazine, the publication of Standardbred Canada.

“People love full fields, good racing and low takeout wagers,” said Rallis. “And that is exactly what Scioto Downs brings. I’m super pumped to be a part of opening weekend there and I hope everyone plays along as well!”

The 90-day 2025 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Saturday, September 13. Races will be held Tuesday-Saturday, with special holiday cards on Memorial Day and Labor Day. First post is at 5:45 p.m. each day except for Memorial Day (4 p.m.), June 19th (4:00 p.m.), Thursday, July 4th (3:15 p.m.) and Friday, September 12 which will have a 6:45 p.m. post to help accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.

-edited release (Scioto Downs)