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Democratic Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland Sept. 30 put his plan for racetrack video lottery terminals on hold indefinitely in light of a recent state Supreme Court ruling and a need to balance the state budget.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The Ohio Derby (gr. II), returned to the Thistledown stakes schedule only six weeks ago upon order of the Ohio State Racing Commission, has drawn a field of 13, including the winner of a $1-million race in his previous start.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thirty-two nominations are pretty good for a race that, up until six weeks ago, wasn't even on the schedule. Thistledown officials Sept. 23 said that's the number of nominees for the grade II Ohio Derby Oct. 3. The purse is $150,000, down from $300,000 last year.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009Democratic Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland indicated Sept. 21 his administration is preparing to take the "next steps" in the wake of an Ohio Supreme Court ruling that says a statewide referendum is required before the state implements racetrack video lottery terminals.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
A Delaware bankruptcy judge approved the sale of Magna Entertainment Corp.-owned Thistledown in Ohio to Harrah's Entertainment for $89.5 million and Remington Park in Oklahoma City for $80.25 million to a Chickasaw Nation subsidiary. An agreement also has been reached to sell Lone Star Park for $27 million.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Chickasaw Nation appears well on its way to purchasing Remington Park in Oklahoma from Magna Entertainment Corp., but the fate of other MEC racetrack holdings is fuzzy at best.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
An auction scheduled Sept. 8 on properties owned by bankrupt Magna Entertainment Corp. will not go forward after the company withdrew Santa Anita Park, Lone Star Park, and other assets from the bidding in court documents filed in U.S. bankruptcy court.
Friday, September 04, 2009The Ohio State Racing Commission has approved 2010 racing dates for two Thoroughbred tracks, but the facilities still have no agreement with horsemen on the schedules.
Friday, September 04, 2009Gerald Bennett, who 33 years ago won with the first horse he ever saddled at old Greenwood Race Track in Toronto, registered the 3,000th victory of his career Aug. 28 when Shegoestoeleven won in a photo finish in the eighth race at Presque Isle Downs.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009Team Valor Stables' Ohio-bred King of the Roxy, voted Ohio Horse of the Year in 2007, made his first start in his home state a winning one Aug. 28 when he captured the $50,000 Honey Jay Stakes at Thistledown.
Friday, August 28, 2009
The Ohio State Racing Commission Aug. 20 brought the grade II Ohio Derby back to the schedule this year by ordering a reduction of five live racing days at Thistledown, traditional host for the only graded stakes in the Buckeye State.
Thursday, August 20, 2009Five of seven Ohio racetracks failed to have their 2010 applications for dates approved because they don't have an agreement with horsemen or have other conflicts; several requested fewer racing dates than were scheduled for this year; and one facility indicated it wouldn't mind closing its barn area.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
MI Developments, parent company of Magna Entertainment Corp., said Aug. 12 debtors filed a motion seeking court approval to sell MEC-owned Remington Park Racing & Casino in Oklahoma to a third party for $80.25 million pending "higher and better offers."
Thursday, August 13, 2009James Day knows a good racehorse when he breeds and sells one. He also knows a claiming-box bargain when he sees it -- especially one as unexpected as the 5-year-old gelding that presented itself at Thistledown Aug. 7.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009A late afternoon rainstorm knocked out the power at Thistledown, forcing the North Randall track to cancel its final four live races as well as full-card simulcasting wagering on other North American tracks.
Monday, August 10, 2009
A late afternoon rainstorm knocked out the power at Thistledown, forcing the North Randall track to cancel its final four live races as well as full-card simulcasting wagering on other North American tracks.
Monday, August 10, 2009Veteran racing official Robert "Bob" Clark, a steward at Thistledown since 2006, died early Aug. 7 at the Cleveland VA Medical Center. Clark had been operated on in late July for neck injuries and was reportedly on the road to recovery.
Friday, August 07, 2009Thistledown race track in North Randall, Ohio made a required $36,000 payment toward a bond, which allows it to remain open, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported June 17 on its Web site, cleveland.com.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Magna Entertainment Corp. submitted a new court plan May 1 to auction off some of its racetracks, including Santa Anita Park, as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
Saturday, May 02, 2009Host track Thistledown, the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, and the Ohio State Racing Commission are discussing ways to restore the grade II Ohio Derby in 2009, officials said April 21.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Thistledown, at the suggestion of the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, has suspended the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) for 3-year-olds. The race was to have its 75th running in 2009.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Thistledown owner Magna Entertainment Corp. has met the deadline for payment of a $1-million bond to the Ohio State Racing Commission, which means the Cleveland-area racetrack will not have its operating permit suspended.
Friday, March 27, 2009
The Ohio State Racing Commission ruled March 19 that Thistledown's racing permit will be suspended as of March 28 if parent company Magna Entertainment Corp., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection March 5, fails to renew a $1-million bond.
Thursday, March 19, 2009In anticipation of a push by a consortium for casino gambling in Ohio's four largest cities, the Ohio State Racing Commission is formulating its own legislative proposal for video lottery terminals at the state's seven racetracks.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Several assets owned by Magna Entertainment Corp. will apparently be offered separately for sale from a $195-million "stalking horse bid" its parent company has tendered in relation to MEC's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing March 5.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Apprentice jockey Joe Musarro, 17, earned his first career win Feb. 22 when he guided Heavenly Surprise to a 5 1/2-length score in Turfway Park's seventh race, a claiming event for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
Sunday, February 22, 2009Requests by Beulah Park and River Downs to schedule their customary Thoroughbred meets for 2009 were officially granted Dec. 19 by the Ohio State Racing Commission.
Friday, December 19, 2008With a little more than two weeks remaining before the scheduled shutdown of the barn area at Beulah Park, management and horsemen still have no deal to continue live racing in January. But developments on a national level could quickly turn things around.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Winter racing at Beulah Park was plowed under and the spring/summer meet at River Downs went up in flames Nov. 21 when the Ohio State Racing Commission awarded 2009 dates that represent a loss of more than 160 days of Thoroughbred racing at the two tracks.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Barring fruitful negotiations -- and that scenario currently doesn't appear possible -- it could be months before decisions on Thoroughbred racing dates in Ohio are made.
Friday, October 03, 2008
For the first 45 years of his life, Vincent Harris had absolutely no experience with horse racing. As a youngster growing up in New York City, working at a Thoroughbred racetrack was one of the last things on earth Harris envisioned for himself as an adult.
Monday, September 22, 2008The Ohio State Racing Commission indicated Aug. 21 it will have a difficult time approving requests by two racetracks that call for only four total days of Thoroughbred racing in 2009.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The head of Magna Entertainment Corp. said Aug. 6 a majority interest of Santa Anita Park could be sold to help the racetrack company reduce its staggering debt load.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Matt Hook has joined Pinnacle Race Course as track announcer, with additional roles as assistant racing secretary and track handicapper. The announcement was made July 16 by Pinnacle Race Course general manager Allan Plever.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Manoel Cruz gave Mount Joy Stables' Smooth Air a perfect stalking trip and the Smooth Jazz colt responded with authority, taking over just inside the eighth-pole and then drawing clear for a three-length victory in the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) May 31 at Thistledown.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Mount Joy Stables' Smooth Air drew the rail and was installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) May 31 at Thistledown, but he will meet some pretty stiff competition, namely, graded stakes winner Z Fortune.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Bennie Stutts Jr. is looking forward to visiting northern Ohio for the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) May 31. But unlike his first trip--about 51 years ago--Stutts won't need a snow shovel.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Mount Joy Stables' Smooth Air, runner-up to Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Big Brown in the Florida Derby (gr. I), completed his serious work for the May 31 Ohio Derby (gr. II) with a sharp seven-furlong work at Arlington Park May 25.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Mount Joy Stable's 3-year-old Smooth Air bounced out of his 11th-place finish behind Big Brown in the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) at Churchill Downs in good condition, and trainer Bennie Stutts, Jr. now has him targeted for the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown May 31.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
The Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and Thistledown have an agreement in principle for 122 days of live racing at the Cleveland-area track this year.
Monday, March 17, 2008
The Ohio horseracing and breeding industry always seems to be at a crossroads. With 2008 almost three months old, negative trends continue and near-term relief isn't in sight.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The clock is ticking on negotiations between the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and Thistledown, the Cleveland-area racetrack whose 2008 Thoroughbred meet is in jeopardy because of a conflict over racing dates.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
With one analyst tagging the proceedings "Groundhog Day," Magna Entertainment Corp. announced Feb. 29 more losses during a short, testy conference call that discussed year-end financials for 2007.
Friday, February 29, 2008Two Ohio racetracks that share the Columbus market have reached a new agreement on full-card simulcasts designed to aid patrons and perhaps their bottom lines.
Friday, December 21, 2007
A controversial plan to shave live racing dates at Thistledown in 2008 could result in the halt of full-card simulcasts at the Cleveland-area racetrack in 2009.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007Magna Entertainment Corp. officials said Sept. 13 the company's debt-reduction plan isn't a "fire sale," and they hope the racetrack operator is in the black in 2009.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Magna Entertainment Corp. has announced plans to sell Thistledown near Cleveland, Ohio, and to shed its interest in Portland Meadows, located in Portland, Ore.
Thursday, September 06, 2007Thistledown, the Ohio racetrack that has shaved about 50 racing dates off its schedule since 2005, has requested another major reduction for 2008 to maintain profitability.
Thursday, August 30, 2007Bill Couch has been named racing secretary at Gulfstream Park for the 2008 meet, the track recently announced.
Thursday, August 02, 2007Trainer Elmer Cowan, who trained Crypto's Redjet to back-to-back Ohio Horse of the Year championships, died July 13. He was 77.
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