Live racing returns to River Downs near Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 11 for a 102-day meet that extends through Labor Day.
Post time will be 1:05 p.m. EDT. The meet begins with a four-day week schedule (Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Beginning in May, the only dark days will be Mondays and Wednesdays except for Memorial Day week in late May. The track is open every day and night for full-card simulcasts.
The meet is highlighted by the $200,000 Miller Lite Cradle Stakes on closing day. The event for 2-year-olds was switched to the turf last year.
Veteran jockey Perry Ouzts will make his return to racing at River Downs for his 34th season. He closed the 2007 meet with his richest career win when he captured the Cradle Stakes. Ouzts underwent surgery over the winter, and the first race of the meet will signal his return to competition.
Several jockeys who rode at neighboring Turfway Park this winter are slated to ride at River Downs, including Julio Felix, Tommy Pompell, and Rodney Prescott.
The first condition book indicates purses will be similar to those paid last year, when daily prizes averaged about $60,000 a day.