Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs
- Aaron S. Terry
- Aug 3
- 5 min read
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs 6000 S High St Columbus, OH 43207
Year Opened: 2012
Sulky Time
Scioto Downs in Columbus, Ohio features harness racing, similar to most horse racing venues in the state, where instead of a jockey riding the horse, a driver in a small cart behind the horse directs the equine’s movements. Harness horses are standardbred, a different breed than typical racehorses, which are thoroughbreds. Harness horses wear bands around their legs, called hopples, which keep them running at a steady gait, and since the carts they pull can’t fit into the starting gate, a truck with fold out “wings” is used for the start – it speeds up ahead of the horses; when the wings fold in, the race is on!
Scioto Downs only offers live harness racing from May to September, but you can also watch simulcast viewing of horse races happening at other tracks year-round (both harness and traditional), as well as visit the casino on the front part of the property, if you visit the facility off-season.
Food & Beverage 5
There is plenty of food on offer at Scioto Downs – the main draw is the full-service restaurant and bar inside the clubhouse, where you can get table service while you sit and watch the races, unexposed to the elements. Tables in the clubhouse must be reserved if you want to sit down in time for the first race, but unclaimed tables become available on a first come, first served basis about an hour after the first post time, which is around 5 pm on most race days, so you can grab a table without a reservation starting around 6 pm. There is also a regular bar inside the clubhouse as well, where you can just walk up and order food and drinks, if you don’t want to bother with a reservation; the bar’s menu is the same as the restaurant’s.
There is also a Brew Brothers pub inside the casino next door, but you must be 21 or older to enter any part of the casino.
Besides the two restaurants, there is also a concessions stand in the adjacent building, as well as a stand right next to the track itself – options include all the standards such as chicken tenders, burgers, hot dogs, brats, nachos, tater tots, pretzels, chips, and cotton candy, as well as bottled water, soda, and a full range of beer and cocktails. No reservation is needed for seats in the grandstand (admission is free), but you may need a reservation for tables trackside; most are reserved until that magic hour, but if it is not busy you can probably find an empty one (although watch out for bees, as they are outdoors and exposed to the elements). As an example of the pricing, a fountain soda costs $2 (free refills), and you can get a hot dog for $5.
Atmosphere 3
Scioto Downs doesn’t have much going on besides the racing itself – in past years they have had races where people dressed up in inflatable costumes, like the T-Rex costume popular at Halloween, but I didn’t see anything like that on my two most recent visits. The big draw for most attendees is of course the gambling – I do recommend getting there early, as they sometimes start the races early without warning.
Neighborhood 3
Scioto Downs is about 11 miles south of downtown Columbus, but there are still several restaurants nearby, most of which are local diners and taverns, but you can also find Asian cuisine and a Mexican restaurant, as well as the Ohio staple, Bob Evans.
There are a couple of hotels near the track, Hampton Inn being the closest as it is on the property (literally next to the casino), and there are also several nearby attractions if you plan to be in town for the day or weekend, especially if you head toward downtown. Columbus Zoo is popular, and if you go to the races in September, you may also be able to take in a Buckeyes football game during your visit (Ohio State basketball won’t have started yet, and Buckeyes baseball will likely have ended by horse racing season).
Fans 3
Scioto Downs has pretty good attendance during most race days, especially up in the clubhouse, and you will see a few folks with children. There is pretty good crowd noise as well, most notably at the end of a close race as people cheer on their favorites, and a lot of hustle and bustle at the concession stands, as well as at the betting machines and betting windows.
Access 4
Getting to Scioto Downs is easy, as it is not far from I-70 and I-71, the two main arteries taking people to the bigger cities north, south, east, and west. Once you get on the property there is plenty of free parking right next to the facility; the track itself is hidden behind the casino; you just need to walk around back.
Pro tip – when you get to the casino you should drive your car toward the right side of the parking lot, then drive around back as far as you can. There is a small asphalt parking lot as well as a larger dirt and grass lot, so you should be able to find something. Then walk under the walkway, located a few steps from the asphalt lot; this may not look like a real entrance but trust me, it will take you right to the edge of the racetrack. If you are going into the clubhouse or restaurant you may prefer the real pathway, but this shortcut will be quicker for most race fans, and you can get to the clubhouse this way too.
Also note, you may see signs saying 21 and older, but that only applies to the casino; anyone can go into the clubhouse and racetrack.
Once you get to the racetrack there is plenty of room next to the track and in the clubhouse, and since you don’t have to buy a ticket or show an id to get in, there are no lines at the gate. You can also move freely between the clubhouse, the adjacent building, and the track itself during your visit (there are betting machines in all three locations, and concessions as well).
You likely will have to wait in line at the concessions, but the lines at the trackside stand are shorter than the ones in the adjacent building. Or the bar inside the clubhouse should have no line, but the food items and drinks will cost more, and take longer to get made, being part of the restaurant.
Return on Investment 5
No cost for admission, and no cost for parking means a great return on investment, and it was fun to see a different kind of racing. I would definitely recommend a visit, especially if you have never seen horse racing, or harness racing, before.
Also, it is worth a visit even if you are not a big gambler – the minimum bet is only 20 cents for a Superfecta (pick the first four horses in the race, in order), so you can have fun without taking much of a risk. Typical bets, like simply picking which horse will win, cost $2 minimum.
Extras 3
The casino, which is part of the facility, is a nice feature if you are into that sort of thing, and being able to see harness racing is a unique feature, since you can’t see that type of racing at most horse racing tracks around the US.
