Turf racing returns to Ohio at 93-day Belterra meet

Absent from Ohio since 2012, turf racing will resume during the first two weeks of the 2015 season at Belterra Park in Cincinnati.

The track on the banks of the Ohio River, which opened as Coney Island in 1925 and was later rechristened River Downs, launches its second year as Belterra on Friday with the first of 93 live programs.

Grass racing, last held in Ohio at River Downs during its final meet in 2012, is scheduled to make its debut on Belterra’s new course May 15. Six of the track’s 12 stakes, each worth $75,000 and restricted to Ohio-bred or Ohio-accredited horses, are scheduled for turf.

Purses at the 2014 inaugural meet had to be trimmed 20 percent at the end of August, and the budget for overnight purses remains tight. Maiden special weight races, worth $10,400 toward the end of the 2014 meet, are now $9,800. Open, $4,000 claimers racing at the bottom level will run for a $5,800 purse, down from $6,400 last fall.

Based on the first week of races in the condition book, Belterra’s daily purses will average about $87,000. In comparison, ThistleDown in suburban Cleveland is offering $130,000 in overnight purses daily.

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Perry Ouzts, whose 164 wins more than doubled the total of his closest competitor during the inaugural meet, has been the leading rider at every meet in Cincinnati since 2008. Ouzts, who will turn 61 in July, is closing in on two milestones.

Ouzts comes into the meet with 6,434 career victories, needing 17 wins to pass Sandy Hawley for No. 12 all time and 37 to displace Earlie Fires at No. 11 on the list. Ouzts has mounts in six of the eight races on opening day.

Joe Woodard won 66 races at Belterra’s first meet and has been the top trainer at every meet in Cincinnati since 2009. He has two horses entered on opening day, including Royal Alluvial in the only non-claiming event, a $5,000 starter allowance for fillies and mares going 6 1/2 furlongs. Royal Alluvial won her Belterra debut at this same level last October when ridden by Ouzts.

In that third-race starter allowance, Ouzts will be aboard I’m So Vain, who has recorded all six of her victories on synthetic surfaces. Although 0 for 4 on dirt, I’m So Vain was a close second in a $6,000 starter at Indiana Grand last season and was beaten just 2 1/2 lengths last time out in a $10,000 claimer at Keeneland.

The stakes season kicks off Saturday with the $75,000 Edward Babst/Albert Palacios Memorial Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for Ohio-breds.

Belterra will race Thursdays through Sundays, with first post at 1:45 p.m. Eastern, except Fridays, when programs begin at 3 p.m.