Eldorado Scioto Downs to host 2026 Breeders Crown
At 0h03, on February 26, 2025 • By Scioto Downs
Representatives from Caesars Entertainment and Eldorado Scioto Downs announced at the Dan Patch Awards banquet on Sunday (Feb. 23) that the south Columbus oval will be the host of the 2026 Breeders Crown.
“The Hambletonian Society is excited and proud to be bringing the 2026 Breeders Crown to Scioto Downs and the Ohio harness racing community. Having worked with Joe Morris and his team for two Breeders Crowns at Hoosier and seeing the commitment made to racing at Scioto Downs by both the OHHA and Caesars Entertainment, this was a perfect fit for all of us,” said John Campbell, president and CEO of the Hambletonian Society, which owns and services the Breeders Crown races.
“The support from the OHHA (Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association) to have all divisions of the Breeders Crown in Ohio has been unparalleled,” said Joe Morris, senior vice-president of racing for Caesars Entertainment. “We’re grateful for the partnership between OHHA, Caesars and the Hambletonian Society to have the races at Scioto.”
In the rich 66-year history of Scioto Downs, the track has only hosted two singular divisions of the Breeders Crown: the older mare trot in 1986, won by Grades Singing and Herve Filion, and the older open pace in 1988, won by Call For Rain and Clint Galbraith.
“In the winter of ‘22/’23 we built our new grandstand and now this winter, we have been building a new paddock,” explained Jason Roth, director of racing at Scioto. “Caesars has invested heavily in the track, both for patrons and our horsemen. The culmination of these projects made Scioto a great potential host for the Breeders Crown, which we are thrilled to host next year.”
Scioto’s race meet historically runs from the Thursday after the Kentucky Derby through the Saturday before Jug week. Discussions for the 2026 racing season are still underway, but the Breeders Crown races will be held during October.
