With Miami Valley Raceway's third live racing season rapidly approaching, 30 late-closing series have been unveiled and are now available online.

The series are spread over the course of the four-month, 86-program meet which will feature record purses over 30 per cent higher than in 2015.

Racing will be conducted five days a week from January 9 through May 9 with new post times for 2016. Afternoon matinees will be presented every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 2:05 p.m., with evening cards beginning at 6:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

The track surface has recently undergone preventative maintenance with two inches of old top dressing removed, down to six inches above the base, and a new more pervious grade of stone added.

"This material offers more versatility in freeze/thaw environments and will prove itself at the timer, too," remarks recently-hired Track Superintendent Jimmy Shelton, who oversaw the project.

New wagering opportunities await patrons including the addition of rolling daily doubles on Races 1 through 7, a 50-cent Lucky Pick 5 (with an industry low 12 per cent takeout) beginning on Race 8, and a 10-cent Buckeye Hi-5 on Race 12. The latter two new wagers have carryover provisions until a winning ticket is sold which potentially creates rewarding jackpot pools which attract new interest in the product.

"The purse structure for the 2016 meet makes Miami Valley one of the most attractive racing opportunities in North America,” said race secretary Gregg Keidel. “The condition sheet, which will be released soon, should entice owners and trainers competing here to explore ways to upgrade their stables in an effort to get their share of the pie."

"Our third consecutive year of higher purses is driven by the continued success of our property's VLTs,” said Helen Carlo, MVG's Racing Operations Manager. “It is a pleasure to see our Ohio-based horsemen rewarded."

"Horsemen seem excited about the upcoming meet at Miami Valley,” said OHHA Track Representative Brett Merkle. “With the increasing amount of money up for grabs, it only makes sense that many are looking for more and better horses to race."

A deep and talented drivers’ colony is expected including all of last year's top reinsmen plus approximately a half-dozen newcomers. It is anticipated that the top 15 drivers, while relatively young in age to other top circuits, will be one of the few who sport about 50,000 combined victories.

Other highlights will include the $35,000 finals of the James K. Hackett Memorials for Ohio-sired sophomore pacing colts and fillies, multiple $40,000 divisions of first-leg Ohio Sires Stakes races for three-year-old pacers and trotters, and a pair of $100,000-plus Grand Circuit races for the continent's best pacing and trotting mares on closing day.

(Miami Valley Raceway)