Thistledown kicks off meet Monday

The spring and summer racing circuit moves ahead in Ohio this week, as Thistledown, which hosts some of the biggest open races in the Buckeye State, begins its meet.

Thistledown, in North Randall, Ohio, outside Cleveland, opens on Monday, April 22, with the meet running through Oct. 10. The track will mainly race Monday through Thursday, with special Saturday programs, along with simulcasts, on Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes days.

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Some alums of those races are sure to circle the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby, the richest single race in the state, on June 22 as the kick-off to summer campaigns. Six times in its last 10 runnings, the Ohio Derby has been won by a horse who started in at least one of the Triple Crown races – including last year, when gallant Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil’s was an impressive winner.

The Ohio Derby highlights five stakes on the marquee June 22 program, which includes another of the state’s richest open stakes, the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline for fillies and mares. That race is behind only the Ohio Derby and the $300,000 Steel Valley Sprint, in November at Mahoning Valley, in purse. The other stakes on the June 22 program are all for Ohio-breds – the $75,000 George Lewis Memorial, $75,000 Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial, and $75,000 Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup.

Also among its 16 total stakes on the season, Thistledown will host the middle of three Best of Ohio programs, designed to bring the best runners in the state together throughout the year. Belterra Park – which also opens its meet this week – hosts the first card, on June 7; Thistledown hosts an Aug. 10 program; and Mahoning Valley, which opens again in October, hosts the season-capping program on Oct. 26. Each program includes five stakes across various divisions worth $100,000 each. Thistledown’s Best of Ohio stakes are the Cleveland Kindergarten and Miss Ohio for 2-year-olds; the Honey Jay for older sprinters; and the Governor’s Buckeye Cup and Pay the Man Stakes, for older horses at a route of ground.

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