NEWS
Ohio Racing Commission sets '09 race dates
Posted: Friday, November 21, 2008 4:12 PM
by Jeff Apel
The Ohio State Racing Commission on Friday approved a 2009 schedule that includes no live Thoroughbred racing dates at River Downs and 60 days of Thoroughbred racing at Beulah Park.
Both tracks, which will conduct Quarter Horse racing next year, were seeking substantial decreases in the total number of live dates offered because of difficult economic times created in part by competition. River Downs offered 105 live racing dates this year while Beulah was approved for 119.
A request by Jack Hanessian, the president and general manager of River Downs, to run two live days of Thoroughbred racing in 2009 was denied by the commission, which approved a request for Beulah’s live dates. Thistledown previously was approved for a 91-day meeting next year.
“The handle has been going down by 10% to 12% a year for the last five years,” said John Izzo, the Ohio State Racing Commission’s deputy director. “This is just something else we’re going to have to overcome if we want to keep going forward.”
The Ohio State Racing Commission could discuss live racing dates again during its next meeting on December 19.
"If, in fact, those schedules are what is ultimately run at each track it has dire consequences for the future of Thoroughbred racing in Ohio," said Dave Basler, executive director of the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. "The commission has left the door open that, until the end of the year, they would be agreeable to amending any of the tracks dates requests if they're able to come to an agreement with the HBPA. I am cautiously optimistic that will happen at Beulah Park and River Downs."
Beulah Park is slated to conduct 60 days of Thoroughbred racing next year, beginning on October 2 and concluding on December 23. Live racing will be held five days a week with dark days on Tuesdays and Sundays.
The Grove City, Ohio, track will conduct 28 days of Quarter Horse racing from April 1 to May 3, six days a week with dark days on Tuesdays and April 12.
Cincinnati-based River Downs will conduct Quarter Horse racing from May 3 to June 6.
Izzo said commissioners were sympathetic to presentations made by Hanessian and Charles Ruma, owner of Beulah Park.
“Based upon by the comments that were made by each of the permit holders I understand their concerns and the economics of the situation,” Izzo said. “They both explained their situation to the commission and explained why they felt they needed to reduce days so much. As a result of that, the commissioners agreed with Mr. Ruma and apparently disagreed on Mr. Hanessian on the two days he wanted to run.”
Izzo said the limited racing schedule could prevent Beulah Park and River Downs from offering simulcasting in 2010. Horsemen approval is required for Ohio tracks to run fewer live days than they ran in 1991 and offer simulcasting the following year.
”It’s the commissions belief that since they are not running the minimal number of days in 2009 and they don’t have approval to run less from the horsemen that they will not be allowed to simulcast in 2010,” Izzo said. “Both of them disagree and say it will be addressed at another time.”
Wagering on live racing at Beulah is not offered by major advance deposit wagering providers TVG, HRTV, TwinSpires.com, and Youbet.com because horsemen have not approved the track signals to be sent to ADW outlets. Horsemen are negotiating an increase in the percentage of ADW handle committed to purses.
Beulah Park General Manager Mike Weiss also cited the lack of slot machines in Ohio as a reason for declining business. Racetracks in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia offer slot machines.
Jeff Apel is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY assistant editor
