I have to admit, I was disappointed when the Scioto Downs grandstand was condemned a few years back and the announcement was made that a new, smaller grandstand would replace it. I’m a Northfield Park guy, but the historic flying wedge of a roof meant at Scioto just one thing: “Ohio’s Showplace of Racing.” Every summer and fall you would see the state’s and often (on Jug Preview Night for instance) the sport’s best horses. There were roast beef sandwiches warmed up in a pan that looked like it had been stolen from a hobo’s overnight bag, cheap beer, and if you had too much cheap beer, the opportunity to relieve yourself in something that looked like a bad high school metal shop project. It wasn’t necessarily pretty but I loved it just the same. And then, last week, I saw the finished project. OK, mostly finished – there is still some landscaping to be done and (please, oh please) some improved signage coming, but wow, what a great response to the current state of our sport, with so much of wagering coming from remote locations. The new grandstand seats slightly more than 700 and there are a grand total of six (I counted) obstructed view seats. Even the “Bob Uecker seats” seem to put you right on top of the action. The seats are comfortable, with cup holders, and they are certainly as comfortable as the seats I sat in the last time I saw the Cleveland Guardians Triple A affiliate the Columbus Clippers play baseball. In fact, the grandstand feels like they sliced out a section of a minor league ballpark and plopped it down on Route 23, just south of the city. Just like a ballpark, there are 10 private boxes and two beautiful party rooms, all done with gleaming glass and balconies. The boxes and luxury suites feature 75-inch televisions and both indoor and outdoor seating. Senior Vice President and General Manager Amy Ankerson said there would be a renewed effort in attracting organizational events and that the track was now well-positioned to accommodate those groups. With the amenities, Scioto also hopes to grab patrons who might otherwise just visit the slot parlor or the sports book to the racing side, in addition to the refocus on group sales. Functionally, after racing officials struggled working in trailers last meet, the renovations include a spacious judges’ room and track announcer Barry Vicroy’s booth can only be described as palatial. “They did everything first class,” said Vicroy. “From top to bottom, this is going to make it much easier for us to put out a first-class product.” Director of Racing Jason Roth agreed, telling me: “We want to make Scioto Downs the Showplace of Ohio Racing once again.” Another happy customer is track photographer Brad Conrad. Whereas last year with the construction ongoing he had to take a long walk onto the first turn to shoot winner’s circle photos, that will no longer be the case for 2023 and picture-taking will return grandstand side. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter “Things are much better this year. I have my own space to work in and it is just mere steps from the winner’s circle,” said Conrad. One of the great things about my trips to Scioto Downs in the past was that if I wanted to go a bit upscale, I could dine in the clubhouse or the patio area. In recent years, food service and quality slid a little bit, but if last week’s dry run (in addition to a press conference the track showcased a 13-race qualifying card) was any indication, the food is back to the standards you would expect. Over $300,000 has been put into the outdoor patio area, and while there is talk of a new paddock in the future, the project already has a price tag of $30,000,000. The Caesar’s Entertainment folks are making a strong statement about their commitment to the live product and experience at Scioto Downs. “Our new grandstand is an exciting step in the maturation of our offerings here at Eldorado Scioto Downs and the Caesar’s commitment to horse racing. This new facility will provide our guests with an unforgettable gaming and entertainment experience,” said SVP/GM Ankerson in a prepared statement. The track will basically race Tuesday through Saturday, starting May 11 and running through September 16. The exceptions will be live racing on Memorial Day and Labor Day Mondays along with a dark day the corresponding Tuesdays. They will also drop Wednesdays at the end of August. First post Tuesday and Wednesday will be 3:15 PM Eastern, while Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays will see the early Double kick off at 5:50 PM, with the exception of September 9 (5 PM) when the track hosts the Ohio Super night, featuring Ohio Sires Stakes Finals, The Charlie Hill Memorial Trot and the Jim Ewart Memorial Pace, with estimated purses for the night at $3.7 million. I’ll miss the old grandstand, but if you feel the ghosts of Charlie or Laverne Hill when you attend, don’t be surprised, as Bill Keckeis, the project manager from Messer Construction, explained to us. The old grandstand materials were recycled and used as backfill for the new project, meaning the old grandstand is still there, it’s just been transformed into something that works for 2023 and beyond. As I headed back to Cleveland, I made a stop at the Delaware County Fairgrounds and saw work beginning on their grandstand. But that story will have to wait for another column. Now go cash, at Scioto Downs, probably on a Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee driven by Brett Miller or Chris Page.