Thistledown, Beulah reach race deal

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Thistledown and Beulah Park have reached an agreement to revive the "seven and seven" race format when Beulah Park reopens on Sept. 14.

Three Ohio tracks - Thistledown, Beulah Park, and River Downs - had raced under the format from 1993 until 2001. The format called for Thistledown and either Beulah or River to alternate races during a 14-race combined card.

Gus George, the president of the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, said the resurrection of the format will boost purses at both tracks.

"With our situation and the state of the economy, the seven-and-seven structure will definitely help the purse structure for our horsemen," George said.