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 Corporate
Name: ThistleDown Racino
Mailing/Street Address:
21501 Emery Road, North Randall, Ohio 44128 (click for map)
Telephone: General Office: (216) 662-8600
Racing Office: (216) 475-1224 or (800) 289-9956
Fax: Administration: (216) 662-5339
Racing Office: (216) 662-3928
Website: www.thistledown.com
ThistleDown Racino is Ohio's premier Thoroughbred racing
facility set on 128 acres in the village of North Randall, Ohio, and home to
the Grade III $100,000 Ohio Derby, the state's richest and most prestigious
horse racing event. Thistledown's live racing season is conducted within
four meets: Summit, Thistledown, Randall and Cranwood. The creation of these
four meets is part of Thistledown's rich history that began July 20, 1925,
with the first race ever contested at Thistle Down Park.
In October of 1944, Thistledown's grandstand and clubhouse were destroyed by
fire and racing was conducted across the street at Randall Park from
1945–1947. It was in the 1950's that racing in Cleveland was contested at
four different tracks, including Randall, Cranwood, the newly renovated
Thistledown and Ascot Park located in Summit County near Akron. In 1959, the
Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation of Youngstown, Ohio, purchased Thistledown
and Cranwood and later bought Randall Park in 1961.
The consolidation was completed with the purchase of Ascot Park and, by the
end of the 60's, Thistledown was host to the dates of all four tracks. In
November, 1999, Magna Entertainment (MEC), led by Thoroughbred owner and
breeder Frank Stronach, purchased Thistledown. In July 2010, Thistledown was
sold to Caesars Entertainment Corp. (then named Harrah's Entertainment).
Racing fans have witnessed history at Thistledown with some outstanding
Thoroughbred champions. Carolyn Hine's Skip Away, champion of the 1996
edition of the Ohio Derby, became the first Ohio Derby winner in history to
compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown and to be named national
3-year-old champion.
In March of 2002, the North Randall oval also took pride in Ohio Derby
champions as they garnered the top two spots in the $1 million Santa Anita
Handicap. Milwaukee Brew (2000 Ohio Derby champion) and Western Pride (2001
Ohio Derby champion) finished first and second, respectively, which marked
the first time ever that two Ohio Derby champions finished 1-2 in a $1
million race.
Ohio's 2001 and 2002 Horse of the Year, Harlan's Holiday, who captured his
maiden win in Thistledown's Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes in 2001, competed
in the first two legs of the Triple Crown Series in 2002. With two Triple
Crown starts to his name and prestigious victories in the Grade I Florida
Derby and Blue Grass Stakes, Harlan's Holiday became the fourth Ohio-bred to
compete in a Breeders' Cup championship race (2002 Classic). Harlan's
Holiday recorded more than $3 million in lifetime earnings and is the
leading Buckeye money winner. The 2011 Ohio Derby winner Caleb's Posse went
on to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
General Manager: Rick Skinner, ext. 1248
Finance: Lynn Shoda, ext. 1236
Racing Operations: David Ellsworth, ext. 1339
Director of Mutuels: Bob Hickey, ext. 1239
Nearest City: Cleveland, 10 miles; population, 1,110,000
Nearest Airport: Cleveland Hopkins International, 15 miles
Track Data: 1-mile oval, 6-furlong and 1¼-mile chutes; 978-foot
stretch, 19 barns, 1020 stalls, 128 acres
Seating: 3,648: Box Seats, 1,200; Silks Restaurant & Lounge, 760;
Bistro Lounge, 250; High Rollers, 48; Black Gold Room, 75; The Suite, 30
Admission: Free admission, free parking; must be 21 or older to
gamble; must be 18 or older for pari-mutuel wagering
Parking Spaces: 8,000
Simulcasting Information: Full-card simulcasting year-round, 7 days a
week; doors open at 11:30 a.m., closed Christmas Eve and Christmas day
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